A 27-year-old woman was allegedly raped by her neighbour in Jharkhand’s Dumka district, police said on Saturday. The accused, identified as a 32-year-old man, has been arrested on charges of sexual assault and blackmail.
Incident details
The victim, a resident of a village under the Dumka police station area, had been acquainted with the accused for several months. According to a police officer, the man allegedly recorded a video of the woman and used it to blackmail her into repeated sexual encounters. The woman finally lodged a complaint on Friday after enduring the abuse for over a month.
Police action
“We received a complaint from the woman stating that her neighbour had been blackmailing her with a video clip and raping her repeatedly. An FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, and the accused was taken into custody,” said Station House Officer (SHO) of Dumka police station, Ravi Shankar Singh. The accused was produced before a local court on Saturday and remanded to judicial custody.
Investigation underway
Police said they are examining the victim’s statement and the video evidence. “We have seized the accused’s mobile phone for forensic analysis. Further investigation is in progress to determine if there are any other victims,” added SHO Singh. The victim has been sent for medical examination, and a case under Section 376 (rape) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC has been registered.
Background of the case
The incident comes amid growing concerns over crimes against women in the state. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Jharkhand reported over 1,200 cases of rape in 2024, with a conviction rate of around 28%. Local women’s rights activists have called for stricter implementation of laws and faster trials in such cases.
“This case highlights the vulnerability of women to predators who use technology to trap them. We urge the police to ensure a thorough investigation and speedy justice,” said Meera Kumari, a local activist.
