Woman ‘raped’ at gunpoint in front of minor son

By Sumesh Rajan | April 23, 2025

 

Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh — A 40-year-old Dalit woman has accused a man from her village in Mainpuri district, Uttar Pradesh, of raping her at gunpoint in the presence of her four-year-old son, according to police statements issued on April 22.

The incident reportedly occurred on April 17. In her complaint, the woman stated that she was returning home after taking her child for a haircut when she encountered the accused near a local bridge. The man, known to the family and belonging to a different caste group, had earlier offered them a financial loan of  Rupees 20,000 (approx. USD 240) due to their on-going financial distress.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the accused convinced her to accompany him on his motorcycle under the pretext of handing over the loan. She agreed and brought her child along. Instead of delivering the amount, the man allegedly took her to an isolated location and sexually assaulted her at gunpoint, threatening to harm her son if she resisted.

The woman initially remained silent due to fear but later reported persistent phone calls from the accused. She disclosed the incident to her husband, who accompanied her to the local police station to file the complaint on April 21.

The accused, who operates a building materials shop in the village, has been named in the FIR. The case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rape, in conjunction with provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Station House Officer Anuj Kumar confirmed that the medical examination of the survivor has been completed and an investigation is on-going. “The accused will be arrested soon,” Kumar said.

The survivor’s husband has demanded stringent legal action, stating, “I want strict punishment so that he does not repeat such a crime.”

This case has raised concerns about the continuing vulnerability of Dalit women in rural India, particularly when combined with economic instability and caste-based exploitation.