A 20-year-old woman was allegedly dragged into bushes and gang raped while her boyfriend was tied up in Chitrakoot, a village in Madhya Pradesh, India. Police said one suspect has been arrested while officers continue to track down two more attackers.
Attack details
The victim was visiting her boyfriend on Wednesday (July 22) when the pair rode a motorcycle to the top of a hill. They were reportedly followed by three men on another motorbike. The attackers then allegedly assaulted the woman's boyfriend with a belt before tying his hands and feet so he couldn't move. They are then accused of dragging the woman into nearby bushes and gang raping her.
The alleged attack took place at around 3pm local time (10.30am UK time). The attackers reportedly threatened to throw the woman off the hill if she raised an alarm.
Police response
The boyfriend managed to free himself before contacting police. Because of poor cell phone reception in the area, he had to travel some distance from the scene before he was able to make the call. Emergency services rushed to the scene, and both victims were taken to hospital for treatment.
Investigating police officers have since confirmed the arrest of one suspect, with the other two still at large. Police said two teams are analysing CCTV footage and evidence from the scene to track them down. They are continuing to appeal to the public for information which might help their investigation.
One officer said: "We have recorded the statement of a local resident who reportedly witnessed the accused arriving at the spot and assaulting the couple. We have also secured CCTV footage that could help identify the perpetrators. Efforts are on to arrest them at the earliest."
