A departmental inquiry has been initiated against two army officers who were attacked by a six-member gang near Jam Gate, a popular tourist spot close to Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, as confirmed by an Army official on Friday.
The incident occurred during the night of September 10 and 11, when the two officers, aged 23 and 24, were on a picnic with two women near Jam Gate, located about 30 kilometers from the Mhow military cantonment. The officers, part of the Young Officers course at the Infantry School in Mhow, were assaulted by the gang, and one of the women was allegedly raped, according to police reports.
A senior Army officer confirmed that a departmental inquiry is underway and is being led by a senior officer. He also clarified that the women involved in the incident were “old acquaintances” of the officers and refuted rumors circulating on social media that the meeting had been arranged through a dating app.
Dispelling speculation that the women might have been part of the gang, the officer emphasized that they were “working women who had come from out of station to meet the two lieutenants,” urging people not to read too much into the situation.
According to police, the group had visited Jam Gate for a picnic. While the location is bustling with tourists during the day, it becomes deserted at night, making the area vulnerable to criminal activities. The six attackers, armed with a pistol and sticks, took advantage of the situation, assaulting the officers and their friends.
Three of the accused, identified as Rohit Girwal (23), Sandeep Wariya (18), and Sachin Makwana (25), were arrested from a nearby forest on Friday after being on the run. The police had announced a reward of ₹10,000 for each of their arrests. The other three suspects, Anil Baror (27), Pawan Bansunia (23), and Ritesh Bhabhar (25), were apprehended earlier in the week.
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Hitika Vasal informed reporters that the attackers held one couple hostage while demanding ₹10 lakh for their release.
