Dalit Woman Gang-Raped in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi District; Three Arrested, One Accused Absconding

A 20-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly gang-raped by four men in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district while she was out with her fiancé, police said on Wednesday. The accused also reportedly assaulted the woman’s partner before committing the crime.

According to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Arvind Srivastava, three of the four accused have been arrested, while a manhunt is underway to trace the fourth. Five police teams have been deployed for his arrest.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when the couple, residents under the Churhat police station limits, had parked their motorcycle near Kathoutha and gone for a walk to a nearby hill. The accused, who were in the area, allegedly attacked the man, chased him away, and then took turns raping the woman.

After managing to escape, the woman reunited with her fiancé, and the two approached Semaria police station to report the assault. Police immediately registered a case and sent both to a community health centre in Semaria for medical treatment.

Political Reactions

The incident has sparked strong condemnation from the opposition Congress party, which slammed the BJP-led state government over the state of law and order.

State Congress president Jitu Patwari called the crime a “shameful incident that tarnishes humanity,” and highlighted alarming statistics of crimes against Dalit and tribal women in Madhya Pradesh. “In the last three years alone, 7,418 cases of rape involving Dalit and tribal women, 338 gang-rapes, and 558 murders have been registered. On average, seven Dalit or tribal women are victimised every day,” Patwari said.

He further alleged that rising crime is a result of the BJP government’s failure to act decisively, leaving victims without justice.

The case has intensified the political debate in the state over women’s safety and caste-based violence, with calls for swift justice and stronger enforcement of law and order.