A 23-year-old woman with disabilities allegedly faced rape in Loni, Ghaziabad, late Monday night. Police revealed the incident on Wednesday. The woman, who struggles with both hearing and speech, is now receiving treatment at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) in Delhi.
Because of her condition, she found it difficult to explain what happened. Therefore, the police decided to bring in an expert who can communicate with her effectively.
On Tuesday, her family filed a complaint. As a result, the Loni police station registered a first information report (FIR) under Section 64(2)(k) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. This law addresses rape against a woman with a mental illness or physical disability.
In the FIR, her father described her situation in detail. He explained that she cannot fully hear or speak and is undergoing treatment at IHBAS for mental weakness. Moreover, he added that she left home around 7 PM on August 18 and appeared near Nithora village at 10 PM. According to him, she told the family that an unidentified person raped her near a tubewell in the village.
Meanwhile, police continued their investigation. ACP Siddharth Gautam explained that the woman could not describe the sequence of events. Consequently, the police requested an expert to assist in gathering her account.
At the same time, officials rejected social media claims that the woman was gang-raped. Gautam clarified that she returned home on her own and even tried to contact her family using a passerby’s phone. However, the exact chain of events remains unclear.
This case, therefore, highlights the vulnerability of people with disabilities. Individuals with hearing and speech impairments often struggle with communication, which can increase their risks in unsafe situations.
Furthermore, providing support for victims is crucial. Counseling can aid their recovery, while legal aid can help them pursue justice. Communities must, therefore, unite to ensure safety, dignity, and protection for all, especially for those with disabilities.
Finally, police have confirmed that they will continue investigating the case. They stressed that they will make every effort to listen to the victim’s account and secure justice.
