New Bihar Rape Case Echoes Delhi’s 2012 Horror

Tue Jun 23 2026 10:06:43 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A brutal gang‑rape in a Bihar village has sparked outrage and draws painful parallels to the infamous 2012 Delhi assault that triggered national change.

A 28‑year‑old mother of four was gang‑raped in her own home by five men in Begusarai, Bihar, a case that eerily mirrors the 2012 Delhi bus rape that sent shockwaves worldwide. Despite her parents’ pleas, police and medical staff failed to act, labeling her cry as an animal noise. Authorities have arrested two suspects, but a Special Investigation Team is still raiding the area for the others. The case has drawn attention to ongoing systemic apathy and the low number of arrests despite the horrific nature of the crime. The survivor, identified only as Soma, remains in treatment, hoping to return to her children soon.

⚠️ Graphic: This article deals with sexual violence.

On the night of 11 June, a 28‑year‑old mother of four was attacked in her own house in Begusarai, a dirty back‑country district of Bihar. Five men barged into the house’s no‑door bathroom, gagged her, tied her hands and raped her, inserting objects — including a bullet casing — into her vagina.

The survivor, who police will call “Soma” for anonymity, told BBC Hindi that the assault happened while she was in the toilet, a space protected only by a cloth curtain. She reported that people in her village rushed to help, but the police, who initially ignored her complaint, later dismissed her cry as a stray cat’s noise.

The police station head was suspended for “negligence, apathy, and insensitivity.” The Deputy Superintendent of Police said two accused were already arrested, and a Special Investigation Team is conducting raids to nab the rest.

During the night, Soma’s husband dragged her to a police station 3 km away. The station refused to file a complaint and told them to see a doctor instead. In that clinic, the doctors were unhelpful, stating no doctor was on duty.

She was then taken to a community health centre, got first‑aid and was sent to a district hospital. The hospital staff were told she had stomach pain, and the gang‑rape detail was only discovered later on 13 June when a bullet casing was removed from her body. The Civil Surgeon confirmed her sexual assault after the doctor asked, “Did you get raped?”

After being discharged, she was readmitted the next day when she lost consciousness and was again sent home a day later.

Over the years, India has seen over 30,000 rape cases each year, yet the public is still plagued by apathetic police and medical response. Human rights activists say the lack of treatment and legal follow‑up is as shocking as the crime itself.

BBC’s report has drawn comparisons to the 2012 Delhi bus gang‑rape that led to widespread protests and the eventual death penalty for four offenders. “We have learned no lessons,” says activist Yogita Bhayana. “The media attention here is because a bullet was inserted into her private parts. At least she survived.”

Soma remains in a hospital bed, still in pain and hoping to return home to her children. Her story sparks a harsh reminder that sexual violence remains a pervasive and under‑reported crisis in India.