By IANS
New Delhi : A 35-year-old widow and rape victim was thrashed here by a group of men and women who accused her of demanding a huge sum of money to withdraw a charge of rape against a man now in jail.
The appalling incident took place in Mandawali area of east Delhi late Thursday when the woman, who had consumed alcohol, was returning to her rented house owned by the rape accused, Ram Kumar, the police said Friday.
Ram Kumar’s family members and friends reportedly accosted her and got into a heated argument with her. This soon led to the vicious assault by 15-20 people.
Calling her a “cheat” and “blackmailer”, the attackers slapped her, showered blows and hit her with slippers. A police officer said that both men and women attacked the widow even as she struggled to escape.
The assault ended only when the police, alerted by witnesses, reached the scene.
The woman, who runs a placement agency for domestic maids, was admitted to a hospital. But she left the hospital abruptly after receiving first aid. But the police traced her whereabouts.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East Delhi) Ajay Chaudhry said the woman was inebriated and added that the attack on her seemed pre-planned.
Police said Ram Kumar was arrested April 5 and sent to the Tihar jail, two days after he allegedly raped the widow. But the victim continued to stay in Ram Kumar’s house as a tenant.
The police said that she reportedly wanted Ram Kumar to divorce his wife and marry her or to pay her Rs.200,000 and buy for her a house as compensation for withdrawing the rape case against him.
“Ram Kumar’s relatives are accusing her of blackmail,” an officer said.
No case could be registered till Friday noon because the victim could not give her statement as she was under the influence of alcohol, Chaudhry said.