Rape Attempt Case: Madhya Pradesh Police Face Questions Over Handling; Congress Corners BJP

Sources close to the family stated that the woman's mother approached Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan complaining about the police handling of the case two days ago. 

Representative Photo: Getty

Bhopal: A 24-year-old woman who thwarted a rape attempt while sustaining a spine injury has claimed that the suspect arrested by the police was never shown to her, and she does not know whether he is the real culprit. 

Sources close to the family stated that the woman's mother approached Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan complaining about the police handling of the case two days ago. 

Serious charges of attempt to rape and attempt to murder were imposed only on Friday even though the incident reportedly occurred on January 16.

About The Case

The survivor reported that on the evening of January 16 when she was walking near her house in Kolar Police station area, a man attacked her and dragged her into nearby bushes.

He attempted to rape her and hit her on the head with stones when she resisted. She suffered an injury to the spine and was in excruciating pain when she cried for help and fortunately a couple came to her rescue. The criminal managed to flee as she became unconscious.

The couple took her to the hospital, from where she was discharged five days ago.

Senior police official Bhupendra Singh told news agency PTI that two weeks ago, a drug addict was arrested on the basis of information given by a witness.

Family's Complaint

But initially, he was charged with only molestation and assault. After the woman's family approached Chief Minister Chouhan on Friday, the charges of attempt to murder and attempt to rape were added.

Responding to why there was a delay in pressing serious charges, the official stated that the medical report of the woman was being awaited. But the survivour has alleged that the police never brought the arrested man before her so that she could identify him, or provided her with his voice sample.

Opposition's Attack

Congress is cornering the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh over the handling of the case. Former party president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and wrote, "Even after a month, the Bhopal rape victim is far from justice as the BJP always blames the victim for the rape and relaxes the proceedings which benefit the culprits". "This is the truth of the government's 'Beti Bachao'," he wrote.

Meanwhile, amid the renewed attention to the case, the police assure that the probe is underway.