4 Army jawans booked for rape in Pune

In a shocking incident, four jawans of the Army have been booked for rape of a woman, who is speech and hearing impaired, in Pune cantonment area.

The incident has shaken the Pune-headquartered Southern Command of the Army.

The incident dates back to 2015, and the woman - a class IV employee - had lodged a complaint through an NGO based in Indore in Madhya Pradesh. The NGO recorded her statement through an expert in sign language.

The woman lodged a complaint with the Indore police station, which approached the Khadki police station, which formally registered the case.

"Yes, we have registered a case of molestation and rape," Inspector Rajendra Mohite of Khadki police station told DH over phone. However, no arrests have been made so far. As on date, none of the accused is in Pune. We have informed the Army authorities and would seek their custody," he said.

According to the FIR, the incident took place between January-June 2015 at the Military Hospital in Kirkee.

The Southern Command has also instituted an inquiry. The survivor has told the police that during the night shift, she was sexually assaulted by one of the suspects. She shared her agony with another person, who assured to take up the matter but raped her in turn. Later, two others raped her.

The victim is a widow and stays with her 12-year-old son.

The victim has also written to Defence Minister and Chief of Army Staff.