MP: Tribal Woman Gang-Raped in Harda; Four Accused, Including Dhaba Owner, Two in Custody

This incident once again brings to light the horrific reality of the exploitation of tribal women in the name of safety and employment.

Bhopal. A very serious and shocking case of gang rape of a tribal woman has come to light in Harda district of Madhya Pradesh. Four people, including the owner of a roadside eatery (dhaba) located on Khudiya Road under the Sirali police station area, are accused of holding a 27-year-old tribal woman captive and raping her. The police have taken swift action and taken two of the accused into custody, while the search for the remaining two is underway.

Lured with the promise of a job, then subjected to brutality

In her statement to the police, the victim said that on January 6, the dhaba owner, Anand Rajput, lured her with the promise of a job at his eatery. Using this pretext, he took the woman to the dhaba on Khudiya Road on his motorcycle. According to the victim, she was given alcohol there at night, which rendered her semi-conscious. During this time, Anand Rajput, along with his three accomplices, raped her.

The victim also stated that Kanha Rathore, a resident of Sirali, also played an active role in this inhumane act. According to the woman, she was threatened when she resisted and was held captive under duress.

Giving details of the case, Robert Girwal, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDOP) Khirkiya, said that a case was immediately registered on Thursday based on the victim’s complaint. After preliminary investigation, the police have rounded up two of the accused. Separate teams have been formed to arrest the remaining two accused, and raids are being conducted at possible locations. The SDOP said that the case is being investigated seriously, and necessary evidence is being collected while the victim’s medical examination is being conducted. A case has been registered against the accused under stringent sections of the law.

Questions raised again about the safety of tribal women

This incident once again brings to light the horrific reality of the exploitation of tribal women in the name of safety and employment. Cases of women being lured from rural and tribal areas under the pretext of providing employment, being drugged and then subjected to crimes, and subsequently threatened and intimidated, are constantly coming to light. Social organizations say that incidents of crimes against women are increasing in the name of providing work at roadside eateries, brick kilns, and in the unorganized sector, but the system of monitoring and accountability is weak.

In a conversation with The Mooknayak, tribal activist Sunil Adivasi said, “The gang rape of a tribal woman in Harda district is not just a single criminal incident, but it shows how insecure women in tribal society are. They are lured under the pretext of providing work and then exploited. This is a failure of the system. In such cases, not only should arrests be made, but the accused should receive the harshest possible punishment, and the victim should receive complete protection and justice. Until there is a strict policy and concrete action on the ground regarding the safety of tribal women, such crimes will not stop.” Tribal Congress attacks the government

In a conversation with The Mooknayak, Ramu Tekam, the state president of the Tribal Congress, targeted the BJP government, saying, “The continuous incidents against tribal women in Madhya Pradesh show that law and order have completely collapsed under the BJP government. There is neither security nor sensitivity from the government in tribal areas. Tribal women are being exploited in the name of work and employment, but the government is turning a blind eye. In this case, not only superficial action should be taken, but the accused should be given strict punishment after a trial in a fast-track court, and the victim should be guaranteed justice and security at every level.”

Investigation underway, arrests claimed

The police say that the identities of the remaining accused are clear and they will be arrested soon. During the investigation, the activities at the roadside eatery, the statements of other people present there, and CCTV footage (if available) are also being examined.

Situation alarming in NCRB data

Madhya Pradesh has long been a subject of discussion across the country for crimes against women, especially rape cases. The situation did not improve much in 2023 either. The NCRB report shows that the state ranked third in the country in terms of rape incidents. 2,979 cases were registered here within a year. Rajasthan topped the list with 5,078 incidents, while Uttar Pradesh saw 3,516 cases.

These figures clearly show that the safety of women in the state remains a major challenge. Although the government has launched several schemes and helpline numbers for the safety of women, their impact at the ground level is very limited.

Ankit Pachauri

Courtesy: Hindi News