Bhopal: A woman was raped on a footpath in a busy area in broad daylight in Ujjain city in Madhya Pradesh even as some passersby took video of the incident without bothering to come to her rescue, police said on Friday.
The shocking incident took place on Wednesday afternoon. But, it came to light on Thursday night when the video of the incident surfaced on social media.
According to the police, the victim, a rag picker, was forced to drink liquor by the accused, identified as Lokesh, and then allegedly raped by him.
According to Ujjain district superintendent of police, the victim was identified from the video and brought to the police station to record her statement.
A case was registered in connection with the incident, he said.
“The accused promised to marry her and forced her to drink alcohol and then raped her on Wednesday. Some passersby shot the video of the incident instead of coming to the rescue of the woman”, city superintendent of police Om Prakash Mishra said.
The accused was arrested, he added.
Incidentally, Ujjain is the home town of chief minister Mohan Yadav.
Congress on Friday condemned the incident and expressed serious concern over the fast deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
State Congress president Jitu Patwari said that “Ujjain, the sacred city, is shamed by the incident”.
Congress veteran and former chief minister Kamal Nath said that the state government has failed to arrest the growing incidents of violence against women particularly cases of rape in Madhya Pradesh.
Congress spokesman Narendra Saluja said that the accused has been arrested and strong action would be taken against him as per the law.
