VISAKHAPATNAM: A 20-year-old law student was allegedly sexually assaulted by four persons, including three of her classmates, in Vizag city.
The crime came to light after the traumatised victim attempted suicide following torment form the accused persons. Subsequently, she and her parents approached the police and filed a complaint against the accused.
The girl and one of the accused are friends and the latter promised to marry her.
According to the police, in August this year, one of the accused took her to a secluded spot under the pretext of discussing a plan, and sexually assaulted her. The incident turned serious a few days later when he persuaded the girl to meet him. Subsequently, he took her to his friend’s house in the city, where he again sexually assaulted her.
Their two other classmates and a friend, who reached the house, allegedly filmed the intimate moments between the victim and one of the accused.
Victim attempted suicide, was saved by her father
Later, the trio blackmailed her with the videos and sought sexual favours from her. When she refused and informed her friend about being blackmailed by the trio, he allegedly supported them. Later, the trio also allegedly sexually assaulted her in the same house and they again filmed the assault.
A few weeks after the incident, the trio allegedly coerced her by threatening to circulate her personal videos if she refused their sexual demands. Unable to bear the sexual harassment from the trio for past few months, the girl attempted to end her life in her home a few days ago. However, her father managed to save her. Later, she narrated the entire incident to family members.
Based on the complaint from the victim, the Two Town police registered a case under sections 69 (engaging in sexual activity based on false promise of marriage) 70 (gang rape), 75 (sexual harassment) and 77 (voyeurism – illegal to take photos of a woman) of BNS and Section 67 (A) of IT Act-2000 (punishment for publishing or transmitting sexually explicit material in electronic form).
Vizag city police chief Shanka Bratha Bagchi said they have arrested all the four accused in connection with the case and further investigation is on. Responding to the incident, home-minister Vangalapudi Anitha spoke to Vizag police commissioner and she assured immediate justice to the victim.
