Varanasi shocker: 19-year-old sexually assaulted by 23 persons; 9 arrested; PM Modi seeks update on case
PTC Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed on Friday about the horrifying case of a 19-year-old girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted by a gang in Varanasi, his parliamentary constituency. The incident came to light during his visit to the city for the launch of multiple development projects.
According to an official statement from the Uttar Pradesh Government, PM Modi was immediately informed about the incident by the city’s police commissioner, divisional commissioner, and district magistrate upon his arrival. "The Prime Minister instructed officials to take the strictest possible action against those involved and to implement effective measures to prevent such crimes in the future," the statement read.
23 accused, but nine arrested so far
The police have arrested nine suspects so far, who have been sent to judicial custody, while efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused. A total of 23 persons have been named in the case, of which 11 are yet to be identified.
According to the girl’s father, she had left home on March 29 to visit a friend, after which she reportedly came into contact with some boys. When she didn’t return for several days, the family grew anxious but hesitated to approach the police initially. Eventually, they filed a police complaint on April 3 “She was found on April 4 by the police, in a critical condition. After receiving medical treatment and regaining composure, she narrated the traumatic ordeal she had endured,” the father told ANI.
Drugged and assaulted over days
Police investigations reveal that the young woman was lured, drugged multiple times, and then sexually assaulted repeatedly over the course of a week. The survivor has alleged that 23 persons were involved in the crime, pointing to a highly coordinated and premeditated attack.
“My daughter was a commerce student and had dreams of pursuing a career in sports. She’s just 19. We don’t know any of the accused personally,” the father added.
Calling for justice, he appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for swift and exemplary punishment: “I don’t demand the death penalty. But the punishment should be harsh enough to deter anyone from committing such a crime.”
Alok Saurabh, a lawyer representing one of the accused, confirmed that all nine arrested individuals have been presented in court and sent to judicial custody. “Eleven suspects remain unidentified,” he added.
- With inputs from agencies
