Six people have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old girl and the beating of her friend in a forested area in Haridwar, northern India, police have confirmed.
Incident Details
The attack occurred on July 12 when the victim and her friend went to a forest area where a group of individuals were consuming alcohol, according to Shekar Suyal, Haridwar police superintendent. Suyal stated: “It happened on July 12 when the survivor went to a forest area with her friend, where the accused were drinking alcohol. They beat the survivor’s friend while one of them raped the girl and the other assisted.”
Arrests and Investigation
Police arrested six local residents on Saturday, and they have been sent to judicial custody. Suyal added: “Further investigation is underway.” The arrests come amid a series of reported rapes across India this month.
Context of Recent Rapes in India
Earlier in July, protests erupted after an 11-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped and murdered in Surjyapur village, near Kolkata, on July 4. Her body was discovered in a pond on July 5. The victim’s family criticized police inaction, stating: “Had police acted earlier, she could have been saved.” In another incident on July 10, a woman was allegedly gang-raped by seven armed men who broke into her home in Alijapur, a village in western Hyderabad.
Statistics and Underreporting
According to the latest government data, India recorded 29,536 rape cases in 2024. However, activists note that many assaults go unreported, suggesting the true number is significantly higher.
