Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, 26 October, 2024: A young woman was allegedly raped by five men while on an outing with her husband in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district, with police saying on Friday that seven suspects have been detained in connection with the assault, which reportedly occurred on Monday at a picnic spot in Gurh tehsil.
Rewa Superintendent of Police Vivek Singh confirmed that seven individuals, including suspects in the assault, have been taken into custody. “We are searching for one more person,” Singh told PTI, adding that the investigation is ongoing and arrests will follow due procedure.
According to Rewa headquarters Deputy Superintendent of Police Himali Pathak, the newlywed couple, both college students around 19-20 years old, had a confrontation near a fountain, about 2 kilometers from a popular temple in the Gurh industrial area. The woman reported to police that the attackers overpowered her husband, holding him at a distance, and then took turns assaulting her. She identified one assailant by tattoos on his hand and chest, police said.
The couple approached Gurh police station at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. “I, along with the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team, rushed to the scene,” said Pathak. A medical examination was conducted, and a First Information Report (FIR) was filed later that day at 7 p.m. “This is a sensitive case, and we are proceeding carefully to protect the survivor’s identity,” Pathak added. She also disclosed that the suspects recorded a video of the assault.
Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari condemned the incident, blaming the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for fostering a “jungle raj” climate. “The victim’s husband was tied up and forced to witness the attack,” Patwari alleged. “This went unreported for two days. Is this not jungle raj?” he asked, asserting that the state home department has failed to maintain public safety. “The home department should be renamed the ‘jungle raj department’ as crime rates skyrocket,” he remarked, citing that 18 to 20 girls are reportedly raped daily in Madhya Pradesh.
Police officials assured that the case remains under active investigation, with further arrests expected as they gather more evidence and statements.
