A horrific gang rape case involving 23 men in Varanasi has jolted the nation’s conscience. As outrage mounts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the strictest action, even as questions over gaps in the system and institutional accountability grow louder. A report by Mudit Mathur
Deeply shocked over the horrific incident of gang rape in his parliamentary constituency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed the strictest possible action and implement appropriate measures to prevent such crimes in the future. He was being briefed by senior police officers about the progress of the investigation into the frightening incident on his arrival to Varanasi.
The barbaric incident exposed the much-professed claim of the best law and order following a 19-year-old girl from Varanasi who was allegedly gang-raped by 23 individuals over a period spanning from March 29 to April 4, 2025.
According to the FIR filed by the victim’s family on April 6, the perpetrator group is said to have drugged her, moved her across various locations—including hotels, hookah bars, cafes, and lodges where different groups of the accused allegedly raped her. Authorities registered an FIR under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. So far, at least 12 accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody, while police continue to search for the remaining suspects. These men have been identified as Raj Vishwakarma, Sameer, Ayush, Sohail, Danish, Anmol, Sajid, Zahir, Imran, Jaib, Aman and Raj Khan.
This heinous act reflects a systemic failure. We must work collectively—with the government, law enforcement, and civil society—to build a safer environment for all women. It drew mixed reactions. While the government (through PM Modi’s directive) emphasizes immediate, stringent action, opposition leaders and women activists are using the incident to call for a fundamental overhaul of systems meant to protect women.
Several prominent opposition figures have denounced the incident. They have characterized it as symptomatic of systemic failures in ensuring women’s safety and have called for a comprehensive review of law enforcement and judicial procedures related to crimes against women.
Expressing Solidarity with the victim and her family, the activists have described the incident as not only barbaric but also a clear manifestation of a deep-rooted failure in protecting women. Prominent women’s rights activists across India have taken to public platforms—including social media and organized public forums—to condemn the crime in the strongest possible terms. They insist that such acts are a stain on the nation’s commitment to gender equality.
