Rape of woman inside police station, ‘repulsive image of jungle raj’ in Jharkhand: Champai Soren

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren. File

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Sunday (November 1, 2026) described the alleged rape of a woman inside a police station in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharswan district as "the most repulsive image of jungle raj in the state".

The accused policeman, Niraj Lakra, has been arrested, and five policemen, including the officer-in-charge of Gamharia police station, Sanjay Prasad, were suspended on charges of dereliction of duty and negligence.

In a social media post, Mr. Soren said a woman had approached the police hoping for justice, but was raped in the middle of the night.

The victim was brought to the police station without the presence of any female police personnel, in violation of rules, after she called the police from her mobile phone to seek help.

On October 29, the woman left home following an altercation with her husband over a domestic issue and went to her neighbour's place, apprehending that she would be beaten up if she returned home at night. Hence, she asked her neighbour to lodge a complaint against her husband for torturing her.

A PCR van reached the village and brought the woman to the police station at around midnight that day. Police officials on duty had provided her with a room to rest, but Lakra committed the heinous crime in the room.

The former CM said the police's job is to provide security to the public, but when an assault happens to her right at the station, where will the complainant go.

Later, when the matter escalated, the station in-charge along with some police personnel were suspended, but will anything change because of this, asked Mr. Soren.

Mr. Soren on Saturday (October 31) had demanded the dismissal from service of such police personnel who have turned from protectors into predators, and strict action against senior officials by fixing their responsibility.

The stain that this incident has cast on the image of the police administration will be visible for a long time. Now, before going to any police station, any female complainant will think more about her own safety than about filing a complaint, Mr. Soren added.