Patna: A 26-year-old woman involved in a Home Guard recruitment drive in Gaya district, Bihar, was reportedly gang-raped inside a moving ambulance while being taken to a hospital after she collapsed during a physical test.

The alleged incident took place on July 24, amidst an ongoing Home Guard recruitment event at the Bihar Military Police grounds in Bodh Gaya. As per police reports, the woman fainted while performing a physical endurance test, which is a standard part of the recruitment process.

Event organizers arranged for her swift transport to a hospital using an ambulance that was stationed on-site. The woman claims that she was assaulted by several individuals inside the ambulance while she was unconscious.

After her account, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed at the Bodh Gaya police station.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a forensic team were assigned to investigate the case. Just hours after the FIR was lodged, the SIT apprehended two suspects: Vinay Kumar, the ambulance driver, and Ajit Kumar, the technician present in the vehicle. Both men are currently in police custody and are undergoing interrogation. Officials have confirmed that CCTV footage from the area has validated the vehicle’s route and timeline.

According to the police complaint, the woman indicated that she lost consciousness during the physical test and was only partially aware of what transpired during her transport. She later reported to the police and hospital staff that three to four men inside the ambulance had raped her.

This incident has elicited a reaction from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP Chirag Paswan. Mr. Paswan expressed his concerns regarding the law-and-order situation in Bihar and raised questions about the effectiveness of the state police.

“I feel saddened to support a government where crime has become widespread. It is crucial to address this issue, or the repercussions will be severe. This is jeopardizing the lives of the people here,” he stated.

He charged the administration with yielding to criminals, stating, “A succession of offenses such as murder, rape, gang rape, dacoity, burglary, theft, and eve teasing are occurring consecutively in the state. While there have been actions and arrests, it prompts the question – why are these incidents occurring in the state?”

“Even if these crimes are intended to tarnish the government’s reputation, the government must put an end to them,” he remarked.