Deaf-Mute Woman Allegedly Gang-Raped in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur, Near Top Government Officials’ Home; 2 Arrested

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BALRAMPUR, Uttar Pradesh — Police arrested two men, Ankur Verma and Harshit Pandey, after an alleged gangrape of a 21-year-old deaf-mute woman in the Bahadurpur, Dehat Kotwali area of Balrampur district, Uttar Pradesh, on August 11, 2025. The incident occurred near the residences of high-ranking government officials, approximately one kilometre away. Authorities confirmed the assault through a medical examination and used CCTV footage to identify the suspects.

The woman, described as specially-abled, was returning home on foot from her maternal uncle’s residence, a distance of about one kilometre, when the incident occurred. A man on a motorcycle stopped her, forced her to sit with him, and took her to a deserted location where the assault took place.

CCTV footage captured parts of the incident, showing the woman fleeing down a nearly deserted road. When she did not return home, her family began searching and found her unconscious in bushes near a police post, with her clothing dishevelled.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Vishal Pandey reported that the woman was taken to a deserted spot and raped. “A specially-abled woman was returning home from her maternal uncle’s house. On the way, she was stopped and made to sit by a man on his bike. She was taken to a deserted spot and raped. A medical examination has confirmed the assault. We are closely reviewing CCTV footage and working swiftly to apprehend the accused,” Pandey said.

Police registered a case based on the survivor’s complaint and launched a manhunt for the suspects. Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar confirmed the arrests, stating, “Based on the evidence and CCTV footage, we identified the two men.”

Kumar added that the accused confessed to the crime during the investigation. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the suspects were spotted near the outskirts of the Kotwali Dehat police station area, allegedly attempting to flee to Nepal. The encounter with police resulted in injuries to both Verma and Pandey, who are now under medical care while in custody.

The gangrape of deaf-mute woman took place near the residences of top officials, including the district magistrate, superintendent of police, and judges, raising serious concerns about security in the area. The police are continuing their investigation, reviewing additional evidence to ensure a thorough probe. The medical examination report serves as a key piece of evidence in the case, corroborating the survivor’s account.

The arrests followed swift police action after the family’s discovery of the woman. Authorities are examining the CCTV footage to piece together the sequence of events and identify any additional details that could aid the investigation. The police have not released further information about the condition of the survivor or additional suspects at this time. The woman is currently receiving medical treatment, and legal action in the case is ongoing. [Rh/Eth/VS]

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