Dumka, the sub-capital of Jharkhand, has been rocked by two separate gang-rape incidents within two days, leading to widespread concern over women’s safety and security in the region. These events come at a time when the government is implementing various schemes aimed at the empowerment of women.
The first incident took place in the Raneshwar police station area. Two teenage girls, returning from a fair following Durga Puja celebrations, were attacked by a group of eight men, including four minors. One girl was molested, while the other was subjected to a gang-rape.
Police swiftly responded to the incident, detaining the eight suspects, including the minors, and commencing an investigation. Medical examinations were conducted on the victim, and legal proceedings are underway.
Adding to the crisis, a second gang-rape occurred in the Hansdiha police station area. A young woman was lured to a Dandiya Night event on the pretext of dancing and was then gang-raped by three men. The attackers bound her hands and feet and filmed the assault, threatening to share the video if she reported the crime.
The victim, after her condition worsened, reported the incident to the police. The three perpetrators were arrested, and the video evidence was seized.
The two incidents have once again brought into focus the shortcomings in law enforcement and the safety measures for women in Jharkhand. While the government promotes economic empowerment for women, the repeated occurrence of such crimes underlines the worrying safety situation at the ground level.