A case of gangrape of a Dalit girl in the forest by five people has come to light in Sidhi district. According to government data, on an average, 7 cases of rape of Dalit-tribal women have been registered every day between 2022 and 2024.
Bhopal – Another heart-wrenching case has come to light in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh, highlighting the brutality against Dalit women. A Dalit girl who went for a walk in a forest in Churhat police station area was allegedly gangraped by five people.
According to the information, the victim had gone to the forest with her male friend to take pictures and take a walk. During this, both of them were surrounded by five people. The accused first attacked the youth on the head with a stick and then dragged the girl inside the forest.
The victim told the police that she pleaded with the accused for mercy, even held their feet, but they did not relent. Two of the accused held her friend, while the other three raped her in turns. While leaving, the accused threatened them that if they mentioned the incident to anyone, they would kill them. Both of their mobile phones were also snatched.
After the incident, at around 2:30 pm, the victim somehow managed to get out of the forest crying and reached a nearby construction site. There, she narrated her ordeal to the labourers. After this, the police was informed with the help of Dalveer Singh Gond, husband of the local sarpanch.
The police reached the spot and during investigation in the forest, recovered a blood-stained towel and marks of struggle. Throughout the night, police teams kept raiding the nearby villages in search of the accused.
A senior district police officer described the incident as a “heinous crime” and said that the victim was immediately given medical assistance. The officer admitted that the remoteness of the area and the absence of CCTVs have hindered the investigation, but the accused will be arrested soon and given the harshest punishment. Some suspects are being questioned, although no formal arrests have been made so far.
Amid this gruesome incident, in response to a question asked by Congress MLA Arif Masood in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, the government has presented shocking figures of crimes against Dalits and tribals.
According to the government, between 2022 and 2024, 7,418 rape cases were registered against SC/ST women in the state – that is, an average of 7 rapes every day. During the same period, 338 gang rapes and 558 murders were also registered against Dalit and tribal women.
It is worth noting that about 38% of the total population of Madhya Pradesh comes from Dalit and tribal communities, which makes these figures even more worrying.
There is increasing pressure on the police and the state government to take swift action. This case proves once again that for the safety of marginalized women, not mere rhetoric but concrete changes are needed at the ground level.
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy : Hindi News