A chilling incident of violence and sexual assault has shaken Madhya Pradesh, involving two Army officers and their friends. On Wednesday night, the group, consisting of two young Army officers aged 23 and 24, along with their two female companions, were out on a picnic near the popular tourist spot Jam Gate, approximately 30 kilometers from the Mhow military cantonment.
Their idyllic outing turned into a nightmare when they were ambushed by a group of assailants. According to police reports, the attackers, armed with pistols and sticks, held one of the officers captive in a car at gunpoint while demanding a ransom of ₹10 lakh from the others who were at a nearby hilltop.
The harrowing ordeal culminated in the gang-rape of one of the female companions. Medical examinations confirmed the assault, adding to the gravity of the situation.
The swift response from the Madhya Pradesh police resulted in the arrest of three prime suspects: Anil Baror (27), Pawan Bansunia (23), and Ritesh Bhabhar (25). Baror and Bansunia were apprehended on Thursday and remanded in police custody for five days. Bhabhar was arrested later that night and is accused of threatening the women with a pistol.
The remaining three assailants are still at large, with the police launching a manhunt and offering a reward of ₹10,000 for information leading to their capture.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the nation, coming on the heels of the tragic rape and murder case of a doctor in Kolkata. The outrage over this latest incident is palpable, with demands for swift justice and stringent measures to ensure the safety of women echoing across the country.
The Army officers involved in the incident were undergoing the Young Officers course at the Infantry School in Mhow cantonment. This attack has raised concerns about the safety of personnel, particularly in areas known for tourist attractions.
The Madhya Pradesh police have registered a case against the accused under sections 70 (gang rape), 310-2 (dacoity), 308-2 (extortion), and 115-2 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with sections of the Arms Act. The investigation is ongoing, with the police determined to bring all the perpetrators to justice and ensure that such heinous crimes are met with the full force of the law.
