Patna: A special investigation team has been formed to arrest a bus driver in Patna after a Nepali woman was held hostage and raped over a period of two days. The incident, which highlights the increasing danger faced by women migrating from Nepal to India, occurred after the victim was lured with the promise of a job.
The woman, who had come to Patna from Nepal via Siliguri, was allegedly approached by the private bus driver, identified as Kartikeya, at Patna Junction. He gained her trust by posing as a helpful individual and offering to assist her in finding employment. The accused then took her on his bus to an unknown location, where he held her captive for two days, starting at 4 am on Tuesday. During this time, he repeatedly raped her and robbed her of her money, including Rs 13,000 in Indian currency and 2,000 in Nepali currency.
The incident came to light after the woman was found crying in an unconscious state near Gandhi Maidan on Thursday. She was discovered by soldiers of the Gorkha Regiment, who contacted Suraj Thapa, the president of the Bihar Gorkha Seva Samiti. Thapa provided the woman with shelter, and later that night, she recounted her traumatic experience to Thapa’s wife.
Due to shame and fear, she had initially hesitated to contact the police. The following day, the Thapa couple accompanied the victim to the Airport Police Station, where a case was registered against the accused bus driver. According to Secretariat SDPO Anu Kumari, a special investigation team has been established to locate and arrest Kartikeya. The team is currently analysing his mobile location and CCTV footage from the bus.
The victim explained that she had fled Nepal due to constant pressure from her stepmother to earn money. Her family, consisting of a stepmother and two stepbrothers, had placed her in a desperate situation that led her to seek work in India.
