Crime
Women’s safety has long been a pressing concern, talked about in forums, debated in classrooms, and written about endlessly. Over time, we've seen stronger laws, more awareness drives, and even self-defence training in schools and colleges. Yet, despite all these efforts, the core issue remains unchanged. The fear, the precautions, and the unspoken rules are still the same.
In this article, we're going to discuss some of the most horrifying and gut-wrenching cases that have left women rethinking whether they are actually safe in this country.
2024 Kolkata Rape and Murder Case
On 9 August 2024, a 31-year-old woman, a postgraduate trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, was found raped and murdered inside a seminar room on the campus. The next day, a 33-year-old civic volunteer with Kolkata Police, Sanjoy Roy, was arrested in connection with the crime. However, questions about the investigation’s credibility soon emerged, prompting the Calcutta High Court to hand over the case to the CBI just three days later. The tragic incident sparked a 42-day strike by junior doctors across West Bengal, who demanded justice and proper security measures in hospitals. What followed was a wave of anger, not just across India but globally, reigniting the conversation around the safety of women and medical professionals in this country.
Read more about the Kolkata rape case proceedings!
Nainital Child Assault case 2025
The alleged sexual assault of a 12 year-old girl by a 73 year-old man named Mohammad Usman on April 12, 2025, in Nainital, Uttarakhand has left the nation terrified. The case came to public attention on April 30, 2025, when Usman was arrested on the grounds of the complaints filed by the victim's family.
The victim (12 years-old) was approached by Usman, a 73 year-old contractor, who allegedly offered ₹200 and a ride back home from a local market in Mallital, Nainital. The alleged assault occurred in the accused’s vehicle, which was later reported to the victim's family by the victim on April 30, 2025. The investigations are still in process for this case.
Read more about the Nainital Child Assault case proceedings!
Ex MP Prajjwal Revanna Sex Scandal
Prajjwal Revanna, Ex-Member of Parliament and the Grandson of Former Prime Minister of India, H.D. Deve Gowda, was involved in one of the biggest sex scandals in the history of India in April 2024. It all started when around 3000 clips, images, and documents surfaced, allegedly showcasing sexual abuse and exploitation by Revanna.
On April 27, following the pressure from the State Commission for Women, the Karnataka Government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations made against Revanna. Later on, a 44-year-old political worker, accused Prajwal of repeatedly raping and blackmailing her between January 2021 and April 2024. On September 13, the SIT filed a chargesheet against Prajwal, detailing multiple instances of assault over three years.
Read more about Prajjwal Revanna’s criminal records!
Dhind Gang Rape Case
On August 22, 2024, a 14 year old girl in was gang raped in Dhing, located in Assam’s Nagaon district. The victim, a class 10 student, was returning from her tuition classes at around 7 PM, when a group of 3 men attacked her near Dhing town. Around an hour later, she was found in a semi-conscious state near a pond. She was immediately rushed to the Nagaon Civil Hospital for treatment.
The main accused, Tafazul Islam, was arrested on August 24, 2024. However, on being taken to the crime scene for investigation, he allegedly tried to escape and drowned himself in the pond. Later, the second accused was arrested by Assam Police in Dimapur, Nagaland, while the third was caught in Assam's Morigaon district. The legal proceedings of this case are still in progress.
Read more about the Dhing Gang Rape case proceedings!
Badlapur School Sexual Abuse Case
In August of 2024, a male sweeper had allegedly raped two 4 year old girls in a school in Badlapur, Maharashtra, India. The 23 year old sweeper assaulted two pre-primary girls in the school’s washroom on 12 and 13 August, 2024.
On 17 August, 2024, the accused was arrested following the FIR filed by the victim’s parents after one of the victims complained of pain to her parents. This led to the discovery that a second girl had also been assaulted. Later on, the accused was encountered by the Maharashtra police upon his attempt to escape and firing at a police officer.
Read more about the Badlapur School Sexual Assault Case proceedings!
Millions of such cases happen every day, and they never get the media coverage and recognition that they require. Most of the people who protest against such acts are never heard or recognised. Although the government has passed several laws for the safety of women and children, the safety concerns persist and haunt millions of women.
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