7 held in Karnataka over rape, abortion of woman with mental illness: Police

Police in Karnataka have arrested seven individuals, including a doctor and a nurse, in connection with the alleged repeated rape and subsequent abortion of a 26-year-old woman with mental illness in Gadag district. The accused were identified as Sikandar, Shabirahmad Junasab, Pradeep, Bharat, Sandeep, Dr Nagaraj and nurse Rekha.

Police registered a case at the Gadag Women Police Station on July 26. Initial complaints stated that two men sexually assaulted the woman on separate occasions, resulting in pregnancy. Three others allegedly carried out the abortion to cover up the crime. However, investigations revealed that four men were involved in the sexual assault.

The victim's parents learned about the ordeal when the woman was three months pregnant and accused the accused of attempting to suppress the case by offering money and threats. The SP emphasized that this is a serious case and vowed to pursue all involved individuals. The victim's parents also named three more individuals in their statement, accused of covering up the illegal abortion.

Police have registered an FIR under Sections 64 (rape) and 88 (voluntarily causing a miscarriage) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the seven arrested people. Sandeep, Dr Nagaraj and Rekha allegedly provided the victim with abortion pills, while the other four were involved in the sexual assault. Authorities are investigating if Sandeep, Dr Nagaraj and Rekha obtained the abortion pills illegally without a doctor's prescription.

The investigation also extends to tracing the owner of a medical shop that allegedly sold the abortion pills to the accused. The 26-year-old victim is receiving medical treatment and psychological support from the Women and Child Welfare Department. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are possible.