Young woman gang-raped in Surat; BJP functionary among arrested
Surat: A case of gang rape has been registered in Gujarat's Surat city involving two accused, one of whom is a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary. The incident has triggered public outrage and led to the suspension of the party member by the BJP’s Surat unit.
According to police reports, a 23-year-old woman was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted by Aditya Upadhyay and his associate Gaurav Singh. Upadhyay, who held the post of Ward General Secretary in the BJP Surat City unit, has since been arrested and suspended from all party responsibilities.
The complainant, in her statement to the police, alleged that she was offered a cold drink laced with sedatives by Upadhyay after she entered his car on the pretext of a friendly conversation. She lost consciousness shortly afterward. She was then taken to a hotel in the city, where both accused allegedly took turns sexually assaulting her.
The woman managed to file a complaint at Jahangir Pura police station after regaining consciousness. Based on her detailed testimony and preliminary investigation, the police registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including gang rape.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-1), Rakesh Barot, confirmed the arrests and stated: “We have registered a gang rape case based on the complainant’s statement and additional evidence. Both accused have been arrested and remanded to police custody for further investigation.”
CCTV footage from the hotel and digital evidence, including phone and GPS records, are being examined by investigators. Medical examinations of the survivor and the accused have also been conducted.
In response to the incident, BJP Surat City President Paresh Patel issued a statement confirming Upadhyay’s suspension.
“The party has taken cognizance of the matter and suspended Aditya Upadhyay with immediate effect pending the outcome of the legal process,” the statement read.
Women’s rights organisations have condemned the incident and demanded a speedy trial under a fast-track court. Several activists have also raised concerns about potential political interference in the investigation.
The case is likely to be transferred to the Sessions Court shortly. Police have assured that the investigation will be conducted impartially and that all necessary legal procedures are being followed.
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Manipur: Mortal remains of children killed in bomb attack handed over to family
Imphal (PTI): The mortal remains of two children, who were killed in a bomb attack in Manipur's Bishnupur district in April, were handed over to family members on Saturday, officials said.
The bodies of the five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister were kept in the morgue for 25 days, as the family members had refused to accept the mortal remains, demanding that the perpetrators be brought to book at the earliest.
On April 25, Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh had appealed to the family members of the children to accept the bodies. Singh had also said that all efforts were underway to find the culprits.
The two children were killed in a bomb attack at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district on April 7. Their bodies were kept in the morgue at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal.
The incident had triggered widespread violent protests in the five valley districts of Manipur, and the case was subsequently handed over to the NIA.
Hundreds of people lined up along the way to Tronglaobi to offer floral tributes, as the mortal remains were taken for the last rites in an open vehicle earlier in the day.
