PM Narendra Modi demands tough action in Varanasi gang-rape case

LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep concern and anguish over the alleged gang-rape of a 19-year-old woman in Varanasi earlier this month. During his 50th visit to his parliamentary constituency on Friday, he received a detailed briefing on the case from the Varanasi Police Commissioner, Divisional Commissioner, and District Magistrate.

The PM, who was in Varanasi to inaugurate and lay the foundation for 44 development projects worth ₹3,900 crore, was updated about the incident as soon as he arrived.

According to an official statement, “Immediately after landing, the PM was briefed by the police commissioner, divisional commissioner and district magistrate on the recent rape incident in the city.”

PM Modi instructed authorities to identify everyone involved in the brutal crime and take the strictest action possible. He also stressed the importance of strong and effective steps to prevent such crimes in the future.

The case involves the alleged gang-rape of a 19-year-old woman by 23 people over a span of seven days — from March 29 to April 4 — at various locations in the city.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against 12 named individuals and 11 unidentified ones. So far, nine suspects have been arrested. The remaining accused are still being traced.

Those arrested have been sent to judicial custody.

According to the girl’s father, she had left home on March 29 to visit a friend and was missing until April 4, when she returned home in an unconscious state, heavily drugged.

Police say the young woman was lured away, then repeatedly raped over several days. She was kept under the influence of intoxicants by the accused. Her father believes the involvement of so many men points to a well-planned crime.

“Yogi Adityanath is known for handling such cases with firmness. I request him to ensure we get justice. I’m not demanding that the accused be hanged, but the punishment should be so harsh that no one dares to commit such crimes again,” he said.