Two men have been arrested on suspicion of gang raping a woman in Gujjarpura, India, after she was drugged and tortured with belts and a wooden club. The woman, who was waiting at a bus stop, was approached by two men she knew, who offered her a lift home and gave her a drink containing an intoxicating substance, leaving her semi-conscious.
Attack and Arrests
They took her to a room where three other men joined them. She said they tortured her with belts and a wooden club before raping her and threatening to kill her. They locked her in the room overnight and raped her again in the morning. They then took her to Bhaman Jhugian near Forest Stadium and fled, at which point she called the emergency helpline and reported the crime.
Police carried out an investigation and arrested two men, identified as Kazim and Hasnain. A spokesperson for the deputy inspector general of operations stated that police teams acted promptly to make the arrest. The other three are under investigation, with raids continuing. The spokesperson confirmed that investigators were examining the incident from all angles and taking further action based on the evidence.
Legal and Medical Response
The woman is also being provided legal and medical assistance. Deputy Inspector General of Operations Faisal Kamran said that legal action will be taken without discrimination against those involved in crimes against women, while stressing that a prompt police response would be ensured in such cases.
National Statistics and Context
India's national rape rate stands at 4.4 reported cases per 100,000 people, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau figures. Annually, the country registers over 31,000 reported rape cases, translating to an average of roughly 86 reported rapes every day.
However, experts and organisations like Human Rights Watch emphasise that official statistics heavily understate the actual incidence due to low reporting, societal stigma, and systemic barriers faced by survivors. Legal experts have said that the harsher sentencing (life sentences or the death penalty for worst offenders) has made some judges more hesitant to convict unless forensic and judicial evidence is absolute, driving down conviction rates further.
