A Class 12 student in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi has accused 23 men of gang-raping her over the course of seven days, between March 29 and April 4.
Following the complaint filed by the girl's family, police located her and began questioning staff at a hookah bar in the Pishachmochan area, where the incident allegedly began. CCTV footage from the bar is being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
The victim, who was preparing for admission to a sports course, had gone missing after a friend took her to the hookah bar on March 29. Police say she was drugged with a spiked cold drink and subsequently taken to several hotels in the Sigra area, where the alleged assault occurred.
According to police, some of the accused were acquaintances of the victim, including individuals she knew through Instagram and former classmates.
Six of the men have been detained, and an FIR has been filed against 23 individuals, 11 of whom remain unidentified.
Chandra Kant Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police for the Varuna Zone, said that the girl initially left willingly with her friend. A missing person report was lodged by her family on April 4, and she was found the same day.
However, no complaint of sexual assault was made at the time.
A formal complaint of gang-rape was filed at the Lalpur police station on April 6, triggering the registration of an FIR under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. DCP Meena also clarified that the victim is not a minor, contrary to some media reports.
The investigation is ongoing, and legal proceedings are in progress.
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