A 30-year-old widow was allegedly raped and brutally assaulted by a stalker in Haridwar’s SIDCUL area on May 11. The shocking incident came to light only on Wednesday after the victim was referred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, for advanced treatment, according to a report by The Telegraph online.
According to the police, the woman was attacked with chilli powder, beaten with an iron rod and slashed with a knife by the accused, identified as Rajat Kumar, after she resisted his attempts to rape her. Kumar, who works at a local factory and hails from Sahdevpur Pathari in Haridwar, is currently absconding.
The victim, originally from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, had been residing with her younger brother in Haridwar for the past two years following the death of her husband. She was employed at a private company in the SIDCUL industrial area.
Her brother told reporters that the accused had been stalking his sister for several days. “He used to follow her to her workplace every day. We had even complained to the police earlier, but no action was taken. We also met Rajat and warned him to stay away. He assured us he would stop harassing her,” he was quoted by The Telegraph online.
However, on May 11, the accused intercepted the woman when she went to the market. “He told her he would not follow her any longer if she met his family members once. She agreed and went to his home, but there was nobody there. He overpowered her and put chilli powder in her eyes. Then he raped her and assaulted her with an iron rod. The doctors said she was also slashed with a knife,” her brother added, as reported by The Telegraph online.
Police confirmed that after sustaining grievous injuries, the victim was initially taken to the district hospital by a neighbour who found her unconscious. Due to the severity of her condition, she was referred to AIIMS, Rishikesh, where she remains in critical care.
Manohar Singh Bhandari, the in-charge of SIDCUL police station, was quoted by ETV Bharat as saying: “Based on the complaint of the victim's brother, the police have registered a case against the accused. A team has been formed to nab him.”
Taking note of the seriousness of the case, senior police officers, including ACP Sadar Jitendra Chaudhary and CO Laksar Natasha Singh, are reported to have visited the hospital to oversee the investigation and ensure proper medical assistance for the victim.
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