Rewa hospital gang-rape allegation: minor’s account and family’s claims raised questions over police role

Two days after a serious incident at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Rewa, the statements of the alleged victim, her family and local journalists raised questions about the inaction and possible complicity of the police and administration in the alleged gang-rape of a minor. The case was disturbing, and the insensitivity of the system, which allegedly met the girl’s search for justice with questions, pressure and threats, was even more so.

The minor’s account: blackmail in the guise of friendship, then alleged gang-rape

What the minor told the media was chilling.

According to the girl

She had come to the hospital for her mother’s treatment.

At the suggestion of a nurse in the ENT ward, she entered her mobile number in a register, and the accused, Mahendra, allegedly took it down secretly.

The next day Mahendra messaged her as a “friend”. Thinking it was a female friend, she saved the number.

When she put up a WhatsApp status, Mahendra allegedly took a screenshot, edited the photo and threatened to make it viral and send it to her family.

When she asked him for medicine for a sore throat, he allegedly gave her an intoxicating tablet.

He then allegedly called her near the Super Speciality gate on the pretext of deleting the photo, forced her into a room and, with four associates, gang-raped her.

She named Harsh, Manish, Surendra, Mahendra and Vikas as those involved.

The girl suffered injuries to her head and legs, and the accused allegedly threatened her with dire consequences if she told anyone.

She also said she was satisfied neither with the doctor’s medical examination nor with the police action.

Mother’s account: daughter missing from bed at 1 am, found unconscious near the gate

The girl’s mother said she woke around 1 am to find her daughter missing from her bed. After a long search of the hospital, she was found lying unconscious near the gate. She was brought inside with the help of a guard and regained consciousness a few hours later. The mother said she had earlier suspected Mahendra.

Brother’s serious allegation: police treated her like a murder accused and shuttled her around for a statement

The girl’s brother made direct allegations. He said the hospital administration deliberately tried to hide the matter and that the family was forced to write that they did not want any legal action. “The accused gave my sister an intoxicating tablet and lured her to their room, where the gang-rape took place,” he said. He alleged that the police treated his sister like a murder accused, taking her first to a guest house, then to the Shilpara bypass and then to Govindgarh to record her statement, while constantly pressuring the family to stay silent. He said the station in-charge warned them not to speak to the media and offered to drop his sister home in a private vehicle. The brother said the police had converted the rape into a case of molestation, which he called a betrayal of justice.

Public anger at administration and police; SP’s role questioned

At a press conference, the Rewa Superintendent of Police described the case as one of “molestation”, which critics said played down the matter and raised questions about his intent. People were now asking:

Are the police shielding the accused?

Is pressure from someone influential at work?

Political storm: opposition attacks the government

The case also became political. Congress state president Jitu Patwari made serious allegations against the government. He said the incident took place in the home district of Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla and that attempts were being made to protect the accused. He wrote on social media: “Chief Minister, will your ‘Ladli Behna’ not get justice here too? Will the accused be protected by your minister’s nephew?”

The Congress called the incident a failure of the state government’s security and health systems. State spokesperson Vinod Sharma demanded that Deputy CM and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla take moral responsibility and resign.

The Deputy CM is unable to ensure the safety of women even in his home district. He should resign and strict action should be taken against the guilty.

— Vinod Sharma, state spokesperson, Congress

A review of hospital security arrangements and action against the guilty was needed.

The incident was not merely a crime but exposed the insensitivity of the medical and administrative systems. If this case was also hushed up, the consequences could be even more serious. It was essential that the Rewa Superintendent of Police be asked at whose behest he was trying to protect the accused.