Two brothers were sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday (August 11) for kidnapping and gang raping a mother of three, who was held captive for three months in India.
Kidnapping and captivity
The married woman was abducted in March 2021 while visiting an office with her then two-year-old son to apply for a ration card in Govind Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. She was taken to the city of Etawah, where the siblings, identified by Indian media as Anvaar and Chhotu, committed the crime.
The pair were also sentenced to five years for kidnapping to compel marriage, according to The Pioneer. Their mother, Usha Devi, was sentenced to four years for wrongful confinement.
Trial and escape
Five witnesses testified during the trial, and the survivor provided testimony and medical evidence. Additional District Government Counsel Jitendra Kumar Pandey said the woman escaped when her kidnappers left to attend a wedding. She alerted her family with the help of a neighbour while her captors were away.
Police then rescued the woman and arrested the three defendants. The woman's father filed a police report in May 2021, alleging his daughter had been kidnapped, confined, and sexually assaulted.
Support for survivors
For anyone who has experienced sexual violence, Rape Crisis England and Wales offers free 24/7 support. Call 0808 500 2222 or chat online at 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk.
