A brutal gang‑rape in Begusarai, Bihar has shocked the nation, echoing the 2012 Delhi assault that led to death‑penalty debates.
The victim, a 28‑year‑old mother of four, was attacked in her own home on the night of 11 June. Five men barged into her curtained toilet, stripped her, gagged her and beat her chest with a blade before raping her.
Police and hospital officials were accused of indifference. The house was locked; the husband called a neighbour who opened the door and revealed Soma’s condition. Officials later told the victim she was ‘above the ceiling’ and stated the assault had been done with objects, a bullet casing among them.
A special investigation team arrested two suspects; police are raiding the area to apprehend the rest. The hospital treatment was criticised as inadequate, with Soma’s case being noted only after she vomited a bullet casing.
Experts say the case highlights systemic apathy toward sexual violence, especially in rural areas; more than 30,000 rape cases are recorded in India annually but many go unreported. The incident also reignites comparisons with the 2012 Delhi gang‑rape that pushed India to pass harsh anti‑rape laws.
In the days after the attack, Soma has remained hospitalized, fighting for her children and demanding justice, as journalists, politicians and activists keep her plight in focus.
