A 19-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two ambulance staff members while she was unconscious and being taken to a hospital for treatment in Bihar’s Gaya district. The accused were arrested by police on Friday.
The victim, a resident under the Imamganj police station limits in Gaya district, reportedly fainted during an ongoing physical test for the recruitment of Home Guards on the campus of the Bihar Military Police (BMP)’s third battalion stationed at Bodh Gaya.
After regaining consciousness in hospital, she informed the police that she was allegedly raped by the ambulance staff. She also complained of acute pain in her abdomen and private parts, which hinted at sexual assault inside the moving vehicle.
The victim, in her statement, explained she was only partially aware of the incidents inside the ambulance as she was unconscious.
“Three to four men who were present in the ambulance raped me while I was unconscious,” the victim told the police. The police recorded her statement and registered an FIR.
A special investigation team (SIT) was formed, and a forensic team was deployed to collect evidence. Within hours of the registration of FIR, two of the accused, including the driver and the technician, were arrested.
Police sources said two additional suspects have also been taken into custody for interrogation. Investigating officials confirmed that CCTV footage from the vicinity corroborated the vehicle’s route and timeline.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Gaya, Anand Kumar, confirmed the arrest of two suspects, Vinay Kumar (ambulance driver) and Ajit Kumar (technician accompanying the victim), based on the woman’s complaint.
“The statement of the victim has already been recorded and a case registered with Bodh Gaya police station under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS),” the SSP said, adding, “The victim alleged that three to four people were travelling in the ambulance.”
The SSP said the role of other individuals in the incident was being ascertained.
“Action will be initiated against them if any evidence is found,” he asserted. Authorities are in the process of obtaining details about the other occupants of the ambulance.
The physical test for Home Guard recruitment was being conducted on the BMP grounds at Bodh Gaya. Police officials said the woman fainted on the ground while undertaking a physical endurance test, which is part of the standard recruitment process.
The officials conducting the recruitment drive had arranged for the ambulance to transport the woman from the BMP campus to Magadh Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
The incident has prompted Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Chirag Paswan to express concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar. He also questioned the functioning of the state police.