Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh), August 18: MP Police on Monday, have arrested five men for allegedly gang-raping a sixty-year-old tribal woman in Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh. The number of minors involved in the gang rape varies in different versions – some say it is two, some claim four are minors.   

The horrific incident took place on Sunday, near the railway tracks under the jurisdiction of Jayant Chowki of Vindhayanagar police station area of Singrauli. The woman was on her way home, back after visiting her sister, at around 10 p.m. when five men, all in an inebriated condition spotted the victim, alone, dragged her into the bushes, and raped her. The culprits fled soon after and the elderly woman somehow managed to reach a nearby police station where she reported the incident.

Based on her complaint, an FIR was registered and the police initiated a manhunt to nab the culprits.

Superintendent of police (SP), Singrauli, Virendra Singh said that all five accused have been arrested and would be produced before the court soon. “The survivor was heading towards home when the incident took place. On getting information, the police swung into action and arrested all five accused,” he said.

Initially two minors who had allegedly been a part of the gang were caught and later with their help the others were also arrested.

The elderly tribal woman has been referred to Medical examination and further investigation is going on, said Anil Sonkar, additional superintendent of police.

As many as 26,708 cases of rape, 37 cases of murder of gang rape, and 27,827 crimes of abduction of minor girls were registered in Madhya Pradesh from January 2017 to June 2021, the state government had informed last week.