New Delhi: India continues to face a severe and escalating crisis of sexual violence, as two new rape cases have been reported in Bengaluru and Dehradun, sparking further national outrage. This surge in violent incidents comes shortly after the brutal rape and murder of a female doctor, an event that had already brought the issue of women’s safety in India into sharp focus.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in Bengaluru, a 21-year-old college student was raped by a motorcyclist who had offered her a lift. Instead of driving her to her intended destination, he diverted to an isolated location where the assault occurred. “A man from whom she had taken a ‘lift’ made a criminal assault and allegedly raped her. We have registered a rape case and started an investigation,” stated the local police. The victim was later found on Hosur Service Road in HSR Layout, partially covered by a red jacket.
In a separate incident in Dehradun, a teenage girl was gang-raped inside a government-owned bus. The assault was committed by five men, including the bus driver and the conductor. Dehradun’s SSP, Ajay Singh, detailed that the assailants were apprehended after police scanned CCTV footage that helped identify the bus involved. The arrested individuals include bus driver Dharmendra Kumar, conductor Devendra, and three others.
These incidents underscore the persistent and growing issue of sexual violence in India, where societal norms, insufficient law enforcement, and a culture of impunity exacerbate the risks faced by women and girls. Experts criticize the combination of entrenched misogynistic attitudes and inadequate legal protections, which contribute to the frequency of such crimes and often leave victims without justice.