A 19-year-old Dalit nursing student was allegedly gang-raped in Varkala, days after the rape and brutal murder of a law student in Kerala’s Ernakulam district that sparked protests by students and rights activists.
The victim, a second year BSc nursing student, was raped by an autorickshaw driver and two of his friends near Ayanthi bridge in Varkala, about 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram, on Tuesday. She has been admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital, police said on Wednesday.
A case under Indian Penal Code Section 376 (2) (g) (gang rape) was registered against the accused, who are absconding, police said, adding, her statement will be recorded before a magistrate on Wednesday.
“Based on the statement of the girl, we registered case against three persons. A medical examination has confirmed that she was gang-raped,” Varkala circle inspector Vinod B said.
The victim had gone with an autorickshaw driver, who was known to her, in his vehicle on the day of the incident. Two of his friends also got into the vehicle later. They then took the autorickshaw to a deserted spot and allegedly raped her, police said.
The girl was in a state of shock and suffered from fits when she was found by some people who rushed to the vehicle on hearing her cries for help, they said.
A team of expert doctors is monitoring the condition of the girl, who was admitted to the ICU of the SAT hospital at the ThiruvanathapuramGovernmentMedicalCollege late on Tuesday night from a private hospital in Varkala.
Hospital sources said her condition is stable.
‘Doctors are frequently monitoring her health condition, which is stable now. Visitors are strictly prohibited,’ SAT hospital superintendent said in a release.
The incident comes days after a 30-year-old Dalit law student was raped and murdered in Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district.
