A Spanish woman was allegedly gang raped in Dumka district of Jharkhand when she was going to Nepal from West Bengal.
The incident occurred at Kurumahat in Hansdiha police station area, around 300 km from State capital Ranchi, on Friday night, when the woman along with her husband was resting in a deserted area at Kurmahat Village in a makeshift tent. The couple was on a tour of India on a two-wheeler.
Three youths have been arrested in the case so far. According to a police source, seven persons passing through the area stopped and allegedly assaulted the couple and raped the woman.
Dumka Superintendent of Police (SP) Pitambar Singh Kherwar said, “In the intervening night of March 1 and 2, the police team was passing through the area when they found the couple. Initially the police assumed that it was a case of beating. They they were taken to the hospital and the doctor said that woman was gang raped.”
He further said, “I along with the police team first visited the hospital and then the place where the incident took place. Based on the information the Spanish couple provided to the police, we carried out raids and detained three men who accepted their involvement in the heinous crime. They also revealed the names of their associates. A SIT has been formed and raids are being conducted to arrest the other culprits. I am personally monitoring the case.”
Police also said that a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team had also visited the spot to collect the evidence and soon other culprits would be arrested. The culprits also looted ₹10,000.
Opposition BJP today slammed the ruling government and called it an “utter failure of law and order” in the State. They also demanded strict action against the people involved in the crime, as well as, the removal of Dumka SP.
The issue of gang rape was raised by the opposition earlier on the last day of the Budget session of Jharkhand Assembly.
BJP Chief Whip Biranchi Narayan termed the incident unfortunate saying that a strict law should be made to punish the people involved in such crimes.
“This is not the first case in Dumka, earlier also tribal sisters were brutally killed, despite that if the government is not learning any lesson then it is really sad. A strict law should be made in the assembly. Just imagine what kind of message we are giving to the world when a foreign citizen has been raped in India,”Mr. Narayan said.
Another BJP MLA Anant Ojha said such an incident is a big blot on the image of Jharkhand which indicates towards deteriorating law and order in the state.
Nishikant Dubey, BJP from Godda demanded removal of police officers by writing a message on social media X, “A tragic incident of rape with a Spanish woman has taken place under Hansdiha police station area of my Lok Sabha consistency, Godda. The government of JMM led by Champai Soren and Indian National Congress has promoted murder, loot, and rape in the last four years by posting police officers everywhere in Santhal Pargana without training. The police administration of the entire Santhal Pargana be immediately changed and policemen should be sent to jail.”
