Madhya Pradesh news : Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nimish Agrawal emphasized the seriousness of a recent violent incident that occurred at Mow’s Army War College, stating that the authorities are treating the case with the gravity it demands. A formal complaint has been filed under Section 70 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to gang-rape, along with charges related to dacoity, extortion, and illegal possession of arms. The case follows a harrowing event that took place early on Wednesday, where eight armed men assaulted two trainees and allegedly committed rape.

According to police reports, the attack unfolded near Chhoti Jam in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore district. The victims, two trainee officers from the Army College, had been out with two female friends. The assailants, wielding pistols, knives, and sticks, surrounded the victims’ vehicle, which was parked at a firing range. The men brutally assaulted both the male trainees and the female friends before looting their possessions. The police have been informed that the assailants targeted the women and one of the male officers separately, with allegations of rape emerging from one of the female victims.

Initial reports suggested that one of the women had been gang-raped, but subsequent statements have added complexity to the case. Additional Police Superintendent Rupesh Dwivedi provided an update on Thursday, indicating that after regaining consciousness, one of the women stated she had not been raped but had been physically assaulted. Despite these claims, media reports had widely circulated the allegation of gang-rape. According to Dwivedi, the attackers separated the woman from her friend and the trainee officers during the assault. The woman, after recovering from her ordeal, confirmed she had been beaten but not raped.

DIG Agrawal underscored the severity of the incident, stressing that the case cannot be minimized and must be addressed comprehensively. The formal charges filed include Section 70 for gang-rape, Section 310-2 for dacoity, Section 307-2 for extortion, and Section 115-2 for voluntarily causing hurt, in addition to violations under the Arms Act due to the possession of illegal weapons by the attackers. The police have also stated that the statement of the woman who was allegedly raped will be officially recorded on Thursday.

In response to the attack, the police have mobilized a significant effort to apprehend the remaining suspects. Two individuals have already been arrested, and ten investigative teams have been deployed to track down the six additional men involved. The case has drawn considerable attention due to the violent nature of the crime and the involvement of high-profile victims from the Army College.

The incident began when the trainee officers, accompanied by their two female friends, decided to hire a car for an outing. The vehicle was parked at the firing range when the attackers surrounded it from all sides. The armed assailants proceeded to physically assault both the male officers and the women, demanding money from them. During the attack, the perpetrators held one officer and one of the women hostage, sending the remaining officer and woman to fetch ₹10 lakh as ransom.