Ujjain: Woman raped on busy road, bystanders film it
What's the story
A woman was sexually assaulted on a busy road while bystanders chose to record the attack instead of intervening in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
The video was later shared on social media, where it quickly went viral.
The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Koyla Phatak intersection, one of the city's busiest areas.
The accused, identified as Lokesh, was arrested following the assault.
Crime details
Accused promised marriage, fled after assault
Police reported that the survivor, a ragpicker, encountered Lokesh in the area.
He deceived her with false promises of marriage and persuaded her to accompany him.
After convincing her to drink alcohol, he took her to a roadside shelter where he raped her once she was intoxicated.
An eyewitness recorded the assault and shared the video online.
The accused fled the scene after threatening the woman.
Political fallout
Opposition criticizes state government over incident
The viral video helped police locate the survivor, who was taken to the station, where a case was filed based on her statement.
After reviewing the footage, police identified and arrested Lokesh.
The incident sparked political outrage, with the opposition Congress holding the BJP responsible for the state's worsening law and order.
Madhya Pradesh Congress posted the video on X, stating, "Ujjain, the sacred city, is once again shamed. Those in power should either resign or die of shame."
Statement
'Holy city of Ujjain tarnished...': Patwari
State Congress Chief Jitu Patwari said in X post, "Once again, the holy city of Ujjain is tarnished... Rapes are now happening in broad daylight in MP — on open streets. This is only possible when the law and government completely disappear."
"If this is the situation in the Chief Minister's hometown, then one can imagine the condition of the rest of the state," Patwari added.
Twitter Post
Watch: Patwari's statement here
VIDEO | Ujjain rape case: "Madhya Pradesh is the only state in the country where 18 rapes occur daily. Ujjain, the constituency of the CM, is where people were recording video while a person was committing rape with a girl. What is the situation in Madhya Pradesh? PM Modi should… pic.twitter.com/ohDwXmYDmL
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 6, 2024