Deaf-Mute Woman Attacked in UP, Suspects Caught
Two arrested after gang rape near Balrampur officials’ homes.
A 21-year-old deaf and mute woman was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur district on Monday evening while walking home from her uncle’s house, just a kilometre away. The horrific incident, which occurred near the residences of top district officials, was partially captured on CCTV, showing the woman fleeing from bike-borne assailants. The Balrampur police, acting swiftly, arrested two suspects, Ankur Verma and Harshit Pandey, within 24 hours following a dramatic encounter.
The victim, unable to call for help due to her disability, was found by her family in a field near the Bahadurpur Police Post in a distressed state. She was rushed to the district women’s hospital, where doctors confirmed the assault and reported her condition as physically stable but emotionally traumatized. The victim’s family alleges negligence, claiming several CCTV cameras in the area, part of Uttar Pradesh’s Operation Trinetra surveillance system, were non-functional. However, a 14-second clip from a camera near the Superintendent of Police’s residence proved crucial in identifying the suspects.
Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar stated, “CCTV footage and vehicle registration details led us to the accused. During the encounter, both suspects fired at police, sustained injuries, and were apprehended. They have confessed to the crime.” The suspects are under medical treatment as the investigation continues to uncover further details.
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Operation Trinetra, designed to bolster law and order through widespread CCTV surveillance, has come under scrutiny. The victim’s family claims the non-functional cameras near the crime scene reflect systemic lapses. The case has sparked outrage, with social media posts highlighting the collapse of law and order in the region. The arrests, while swift, have not quelled demands for accountability and improved safety measures in Balrampur.
