The woman has identified co-villagers, as the rapists who are absconding

A 26-year-old married woman said she was raped by a man, who had offered her a ride on his scooter back home to a village in Nawadih block, around 30km from here, and his friend on Wednesday night.

The incident took place at a village around 1km from the woman’s home, which she had left following an altercation with her husband.

The woman has identified co-villagers Vishwanath Mahato and Guddu Pandey as the rapists. The duo are absconding.

Mahila police station-in charge Shila Hembram said: “One accused has been identified as Vishwanath Mahato, a resident of the same village as the victim , and the other one is his friend Guddu Pandey.

“We are conducting raids to nab them. Following the complaint filed by the victim, an FIR has been lodged against the duo under Section 376D (gangrape) of the IPC. We have sent the woman to Chas Sadar Hospital for medical examination.’’

Police sources said the woman had gone to Baradih village in Dumri block of Giridih district after stepping out of her house on Wednesday afternoon and met a woman ward member of Giridih Municipal Corporation.

“After hearing everything from her, the ward member informed Vishwanath who was known to her,” the source said.

Vishwanath reached Baradih village around 8pm on Wednesday and assured the ward member that he would drop the woman at her house and also help the couple resolve their differences.

On their way back on a scooter, Vishwanath intentionally took a wrong turn and took the woman to an isolated spot at Ahardih village where his friend Guddu was already waiting.

“The two men then took turns to rape her. They also threatened to kill her if she told anybody about the incident,” a police officer said.

On Thursday morning, the woman informed the matter to village head Rauf Ansari and other villagers before visiting the Mahila police station to lodge her complaint.