An Indian nurse who attended to the highly prolific Delhi gang-rape victim last year has allegedly become a victim of sexual assault herself, UK MailOnline reported. Since the fatal gang-rape of a student on a moving bus in Delhi in 2012 gained national attention, women's safety in India has been under the spotlight.
The Delhi-based nurse was reportedly contacted on Monday by one of the rape accused, 32-year-old Balwinder Kala, on the pretext of helping his sister-in-law Ramandeep Kaur, whom she had recently met, according to the police. The other accused has been identified as 28-year-old Lakhwinder.
The unidentified nurse met Kaur at a bus stop in Delhi around 25 days ago. After learning that Kaur had left her husband and in-laws due to an argument, the nurse gave her shelter for three days.
"After three days, Kaur informed her in-laws that she was in Delhi. A relative of Kaur's husband, Balwinder Kala, was sent to Delhi to bring her back," UK MailOnline reported.
It was during this encounter that Balwinder exchanged phone numbers with the nurse. Following this, the nurse sought regular updates about Kaur from Balwinder.
On Sunday, "Balwinder Kala contacted the nurse that Kaur was not well and wanted to meet her. She reached Budhlada by train on Monday around 7 p.m. It was already dark and the accused took her on his scooter to a field near the village," Assistant Sub-inspector Balwinder Singh said, adding that the incident took place at Budhlada in Punjab's Mansa district on the intervening night of September 8-9.
"Lakhwinder joined him and they gang-raped her throughout the night," he continued, adding that three other girls and two more men were present at the makeshift house that the victim was forced into.
"Balwinder dropped the victim at the railway station on the same scooter on Tuesday morning. Showing presence of mind, she managed to snatch the scooter's keys and raised alarm," he said.
After the accused fled from the spot, the victim rushed to the Budhlada police station for help.
The suspects were then immediately arrested, with a local court sending the pair to prison for two days of custody on September 10.
However, the police are still investigating to identify and trace the three girls and two men mentioned in the victim's statement, the assistant sub-inspector said.
"We are investigating the case. The victim, in her statement, has said that three other girls and two more men were also present," the police officer said.
In the meantime, the nurse underwent a medical examination and the report is expected to come out soon, the police said.
