Woman allegedly gang-raped by 17 men in Jharkhand; National Commission for Women expresses concern

According to reports, the woman was raped and her husband held hostage by 17 men when the couple was returning from the market on Tuesday night

In a barbaric incident, a 35-year-old woman was allegedly waylaid and gang-raped by 17 persons in Jharkhand’s Dumka district.

Her husband, who was accompanying her while the couple was returning from the ‘Saaptahik Haat’ (weekly market), was held hostage at knife-point by five accused, while the others took turns to rape her. The victim, a mother of five, is a resident of Kathikund in Dumka.

The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Dumka, Sudarshan Mandal, said one person has been detained in this connection while raids were on to apprehend the other accused named in the complaint lodged by the victim.

“The victim has identified one person. Meanwhile, she has been sent to the Dumka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) for a medical check-up,” said Ambar Lakra, the SP.

Sources in Dumka informed Deccan Herald that the victim’s husband told the police that the couple was returning from the weekly market at 8 pm on Tuesday when 17 persons waylaid them and held him hostage. “I was held hostage at knife-point, while the culprits took my wife to the bushes and gang-raped her. When I tried to free myself, and go to her rescue, I was mercilessly thrashed,” the husband told the Dumka police.

“The woman is not consistent in her statements. She told me she was gang-raped by five persons when I quizzed her,” Lakra said. Meanwhile, the cops have launched a manhunt to nab the absconding accused based on the descriptions provided by the victim and her husband.

In the meantime, the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday sought a report from the Jharkhand government in the gangrape case.

Notably, Dumka is the second capital of Jharkhand and the home town of JMM Chief Shibu Soren and his son CM Hemant Soren.