Bihar woman tied up, gang-raped by five men; two arrested, police officer suspended

Begusarai: A woman in Bihar’s Begusarai district was allegedly gang-raped and assaulted with objects inside her home, triggering nationwide outrage and renewed scrutiny of the handling of sexual violence cases in India.

The perpetrators of the crime also inserted a live bullet, a stone and a piece of wood in her private parts, The New Indian Express reported.

The 28-year-old survivor, a mother of four, told the media that five men attacked her on the night of June 11 in a village in Begusarai. She alleged that the accused gagged and restrained her before sexually assaulting her. She also suffered injuries during the attack.

In her statement before the court, the survivor said that five youths forcibly held her captive when she had stepped out to relieve herself. The accused took her to a secluded place and raped her after tying her up with a rope.

One report mentioned that doctors reportedly recovered foreign objects from the survivor’s body during treatment. According to police, medical examination has confirmed sexual assault.

Begusarai Superintendent of Police Maneesh said three accused have been named in the case, while two others remain unidentified, BBC reported. Two accused have been arrested and a Special Investigation Team has been formed to trace the remaining accused. Police said some of the accused have prior criminal records and have been booked under provisions related to gang rape.

The incident has also raised questions about the response of law enforcement and healthcare authorities. The survivor’s husband alleged that when he took her to a nearby police station following the assault, officers declined to immediately register a complaint and advised him to seek medical treatment instead.

Subsequently, the officer in charge of the police station, Rajiv Kumar, was suspended for alleged negligence, apathy and insensitivity. Police said a First Information Report was registered on June 13.

The survivor and her family have also alleged lapses in medical care. After initially receiving treatment at local health facilities, she was repeatedly discharged despite continuing health complications. Hospital authorities, however, maintained that medical examinations were conducted after they were informed of the sexual assault.

The case has drawn comparisons with the 2012 Delhi gang rape that led to nationwide protests and stricter anti-rape laws. Women’s rights activists said the incident highlights persistent gaps in policing, healthcare response and victim support, particularly in rural areas, despite legal reforms introduced over the past decade.