Two Army Officers Assaulted, Female Friend Gang-Raped In Indore; Congress Leaders Attack BJP-Ruled Madhya Pradesh

Two Army officers were assaulted, and one of their two female friends was allegedly gang-raped by armed assailants while on a picnic in Indore district, Madhya Pradesh (MP), on Wednesday (11 September).

The unfortunate incident took a political turn as Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra started attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- ruled state.

As per the police report, the incident occurred when the two Major-rank officers, undergoing training at the Army War College in Mhow Cantonment, went for a picnic with two female friends in the Jam Gate area.

Upon arrival, six men armed with pistols, knives, and sticks surrounded their vehicle, attacking the officers and their friends. The assailants also stole their wallets and valuables.

The attackers held one officer and a woman hostage, releasing the other officer and woman to collect a Rs 10 lakh ransom. The released officer informed his Commanding Officer, leading to a police alert.

The police arrived at the scene, causing the attackers to flee. All four were taken to Mhow Civil Hospital for medical examination. The doctors reported visible injuries on the officers, and the medical report confirmed that one woman had been gang-raped.

Following the incident, a case was registered under various sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including those for robbery, dacoity, rape, and the Arms Act. Two suspects were arrested, and ten police teams were deployed to track down the remaining perpetrators.

"Efforts are underway to nab the four accused. They will be caught at the earliest... The woman's statement is yet to be recorded, once it happens, further action will be taken..." Indore Superintendent of Police Hitika Vasal told India Today.

While Rahul Gandhi declared that law and order do not exist in BJP-ruled states, Vadra alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has failed to ensure the safety of women in the country.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati and former MP Chief Minister Kamal Nath also raised concerns about the diminishing fear of the law in the minds of culprits.