Deaf-mute woman chased by bike-borne men on deserted road in Balrampur, gangraped

Incident occurred 20 m from a police post, where all 4 CCTV cameras were found non-operational; but horror captured in a CCTV footage near SP residence that helped identify and nab two suspects

BALRAMPUR Two men were arrested on Wednesday for the alleged kidnapping and gang rape of a 22-year-old woman with multiple disabilities in Balrampur’s Bahadurpur area, just 20 metres from a police post where all four CCTV cameras were non-operational.

Two of the suspects were arrested within 24 hours of the incident following an encounter in the early hours of Wednesday. (Pic for representation)

The assault occurred on Monday evening when the woman was returning home from her a relative’s house around 8pm. CCTV footage near the superintendent of police’s residence captured 14 seconds of the woman, appearing barefoot, running on a dimly lit road while being chased by men on motorcycles.

Ankur Verma, 21, and Harshit Pandey, 22, were arrested following an encounter in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.

Both sustained injuries during a police chase while attempting to evade capture and have admitted to the crime during preliminary interrogation, according to superintendent of police Vikash Kumar.

The victim’s family reported that unidentified men abducted her on a motorcycle and allegedly dragged her to a deserted field where the assault took place. When she failed to return home by 9pm, her family began searching and found her unconscious in the field.

The area is considered sensitive from a security standpoint, with the residences of the district magistrate, SP, and a district judge just within metres.

She was admitted to the district women’s hospital, where doctors reported her condition as stable. Police said the site of assault was inspected promptly and the victim was sent for medical examination.

The victim’s brother filed a complaint at Kotwali Dehat police station. “The route taken by the girl was thoroughly inspected, and CCTV footage helped identify suspects,” Kumar told PTI.

Dehat Kotwali inspector Brijanand Singh confirmed that a case has been filed and the search for additional suspects continues. Police added that further legal proceedings in the case are underway while the victim undergoes medical care.

Opposition parties on Wednesday condemned the Yogi Adityanath administration over the gang rape, calling it a grim reflection of the state’s law and order situation.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav termed the crime “extremely heinous” and questioned the state government’s claims on maintaining law and order. “Will those making such claims be able to look the public in the eye?” he asked on X.

The Uttar Pradesh Congress alleged on X that the CCTV footage showed “5-6 men on bikes” chasing the survivor. “If daughters are not safe near police stations and the SP’s residence, imagine the reality in the rest of the state,” the party said, calling the government “shameless and incompetent”.

The Aam Aadmi Party alleged the survivor ran past the SP’s residence whilst fleeing but received no help, adding that “the dignity of mothers and sisters is being trampled every day” in BJP-ruled states

.