Karnataka horror: Mentally challenged woman raped in Gadag; accused circulated videos of assault

Gadag: A case of alleged sexual assault on a mentally challenged young woman came to light on Thursday from Arahunasi village in Rona taluk of Karnataka’s Gadag district, with police registering a case against a man following a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother.

According to the complaint, the accused, identified as Durgappa, allegedly lured the young woman by offering her chocolates and snacks before repeatedly sexually assaulting her over an extended period. The alleged abuse came to light after the victim was found to be around six months pregnant.

Police said the victim’s mother approached the authorities after learning about the incident and lodged a complaint against the accused. Local youths had also alerted the concerned department after they became aware of the alleged abuse.

Preliminary information suggests that the accused allegedly recorded videos of the sexual assaults on his mobile phone. The incident reportedly came to light after one of the videos was circulated, prompting local residents to inform the authorities.

On July 6, the victim was taken to the Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) Hospital for medical examination. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the allegations.

Further investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and verify the allegations, including the reported circulation of the video.

In 2025, three men were arrested by the Hassan police for the gang rape of a mentally challenged woman. The perpetrators also recorded the assault and circulated the video to the victim’s brother, sparking widespread public outrage and protests across the region.

An unidentified individual allegedly raped a mentally challenged woman who was being treated in the destitute ward of the state-run K.R. Hospital in Mysuru in 2021. The victim was relocated to Cheluvamba Hospital for specialised care, prompting an investigation into the facility’s security and CCTV footage.

In 2017, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and a driver were arrested after an on-duty police officer picked up a 32-year-old mentally challenged woman on the pretext of dropping her off at home and subsequently raped her in a moving vehicle. The ASI was later convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

A 25-year-old woman with mental disabilities was raped at her home while her family briefly attended a local temple fair. The local police quickly arrested the culprit, using forensic evidence to secure a conviction in court in 2019.

IANS