A 28-year-old woman was allegedly gangraped by seven men near Silchar in the Cachar district of Assam, and was forced to transfer Rs 10,000 to one of the accused, police said on Tuesday, as reported by Hindustan Times. The incident, which reportedly took place on February 19, is under investigation, with arrests already made and attempts being made to track down the other accused.
Complaint filed, arrests made
According to police, the woman filed a complaint after the incident, and a case was registered at Silchar Sadar Police Station. A senior police officer confirmed that two of the accused, identified by the victim, have been arrested.
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"The mandatory medical examination has been conducted, and her statement has also been recorded," the officer said, as quoted by HT.
Police added that search operations are underway to locate and apprehend the remaining accused persons.
Alleged assault near bypass road
Family members of the survivor alleged that she and her boyfriend were inside a car on Bypass Road, located a few kilometre from Silchar town, when a group of men arrived in an SUV and confronted them, reported HT.
āThey first asked the couple about their whereabouts and then suddenly grabbed the woman and her friend. There were around 7 men, and they raped her one by one in front of her friend,ā they alleged, the HT report said.
In her complaint, the woman stated that the accused sexually assaulted her in front of her boyfriend and later forced her to transfer Rs 10,000 to one of their bank accounts before fleeing the spot.
Case registered under multiple charges
The case has been registered under various sections of the 'Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita' that include gangrape, extortion by threat of death, dacoity, criminal intimidation, unlawful assembly, use of criminal force to strip a woman, and actions that are intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
The police are also advising people not to spread any misinformation on social media.
Journalist assault allegation surfaces
A journalist from Silchar reported that he was beaten up by the relatives of one of the accused for reporting the crime. He said that he was intercepted near the National Highway Road Police Station, questioned about his reporting, and beaten up until onlookers intervened.
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A complaint has been filed by the police and an individual has been arrested.
Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev also reacted to the case, calling for strict action.
"I have met SP Cachar District for an update on action taken There should be no attempt to cover up this case. @AITC4Assam will not tolerate it. Medical report awaited I am told," the Trinamool Congress MP was quoted as saying by HT.
