Balrampur (Uttar Pradesh): In a shocking incident that has raised serious questions over law and order in Uttar Pradesh, a 22-year-old differently-abled woman was allegedly gangraped just 20 metres from the Bahadurpur police outpost in Dehat Kotwali area on Monday night.
The incident occurred around 8 pm in an area located alarmingly close to the official residences of the District Magistrate (DM), Superintendent of Police (SP) and Additional District Magistrate (ADM). A shocking CCTV footage has surfaced online showing the victim running on the road.
Details On The Horrific Crime
According to the victim’s family, she was returning home from her maternal grandparents’ house near the DM’s residence when a man intercepted her. The accused allegedly abducted her and took her to a deserted field, where he and the other accused sexually assaulted her. Unable to speak, the woman could not call for help. After committing the crime, the attackers fled the scene.
CCTV Footage Shows Victim Running On Road
The incident has triggered public outrage, particularly due to its proximity to multiple high-security locations. Preliminary inquiries revealed that three to four CCTV cameras at the Bahadurpur police outpost were non-functional at the time. Footage from a camera near the SP’s residence captured a 14-second clip showing the victim running, followed by men on a motorcycle.
When the victim failed to return home even an hour later, her family began searching for her. She was eventually found in a distressed condition in the field and rushed to the district women’s hospital for treatment. According to a Navbharat Times report, doctors confirmed she is physically stable but remains in a state of shock.
The victim’s family has accused the police of gross negligence, alleging that the crime could have been prevented had the security arrangements been functional. An FIR was filed at the Dehat Kotwali Police Station based on the family’s complaint.
2 Accused Arrested After Encounter
Balrampur police sprung into action immediately and arrested two individuals in connection with the horrific crime. Both the accused were nabbed following an encounter. The accused were identified as Ankur Verma and Harshit Pandey. Both have confessed to the crime.
