Bihar Gang Rape: Brutality Echoes 2012 Delhi Case Amid Apathy Claims

Top Summary

• What happened: A 28-year-old mother of four, Soma (not her real name), was brutally gang-raped in her home on June 11 in a Begusarai village, Bihar, with objects reportedly inserted.
• Why it matters: The case's brutality revives painful memories of the 2012 Delhi gang rape, highlighting persistent allegations of police and medical apathy towards sexual assault survivors in India.
• What changes: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed, two accused arrested, and a police station head suspended for negligence. Authorities face increased scrutiny to ensure justice and proper care.
• Who is affected: The survivor, Soma, and her family, along with other women facing sexual assault in India, particularly in backward regions, as well as the police and medical establishment in Bihar.

Horrific Assault Shocks Begusarai

In a deeply disturbing incident on the night of June 11, a 28-year-old mother of four, identified as Soma (not her real name), was brutally gang-raped in her own home in a village within Bihar's Begusarai district. This district is officially recognized as one of India's most socially and economically backward regions.

Soma recounted the horrific attack to BBC Hindi, stating she was in the outdoor toilet, which only had a curtain for privacy, when five men barged in. "They stripped me, gagged me, and tied my hands. When I tried to fight back, they slashed my chest with a blade and raped me," she described.

Her husband initially dismissed her groans as stray cat noises but grew suspicious. He found their one-room home locked from the outside and called a neighbour for help. Upon entry, "everyone saw my condition and began to cry," Soma stated.

Allegations of Official Apathy Surface

Following the assault, Soma and her husband reportedly faced significant challenges in receiving timely police and medical assistance. Her husband, an e-rickshaw driver, took his unconscious wife to a police station approximately 3 km from their home.

He claims police refused to file a complaint, advising him to seek medical attention instead. Subsequently, the police station head, Rajiv Kumar, has been suspended for "negligence, apathy, and insensitivity," according to Begusarai police. An FIR (First Information Report) was eventually registered on June 13 at the local police station.

Struggles for Medical Care

The survivor's ordeal extended to accessing proper medical care. On the night of the attack, a nearby private clinic reportedly turned her away, citing it did not handle emergencies and had no doctor on duty. She was then taken to a government community health centre, where she received first aid before being referred to a district hospital.

Soma told the BBC that her initial treatment at the hospital was unsatisfactory. After regaining consciousness on June 12, she informed her husband and the treating doctor about the gang rape. "The doctor asked me while administering an injection, 'Were you raped as well?' I kept telling her, 'Yes, Madam, I was'," she recalled.

Ashok Kumar, the Civil Surgeon of Begusarai, however, told the BBC that the woman was brought in with complains of stomach pain. And that they were informed of the gangrape only on 13 June "after which the physicians immediately conducted her medical examination".

Investigation Progresses, Arrests Made

Begusarai Superintendent of Police Maneesh (who uses only one name) confirmed to the BBC that Soma's "medical report has confirmed sexual assault." He stated that there are three named and two unidentified accused in the case.

Police have successfully arrested two of the accused. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the case, with raids ongoing to apprehend the remaining perpetrators. Authorities also noted that some of the accused have a previous history of crimes and have invoked sections dealing with gang rape against them.

What to Watch Next

The ongoing investigation by the Special Investigation Team will focus on apprehending all remaining accused and ensuring legal proceedings. Attention will also remain on the promised reforms within police and medical departments to address systemic apathy towards sexual assault survivors in India.