Deaf-mute woman gangraped in UP's Balrampur, two men arrested after police encounter

Balrampur police arrested two men, Ankur Verma (21) and Harshit Pandey (22), in connection with the gangrape of a 22-year-old deaf-mute woman on August 11, 2025. The incident occurred while the victim was returning home from her maternal uncle’s house in the Bahadurpur, Dehat Kotwali area. CCTV footage captured the victim fleeing her assailants, which helped authorities in identifying the suspects.

The victim’s family raised an alarm after she did not return home by 9 PM. Upon finding her, she conveyed through sign language that two men on a motorcycle had offered her a ride but took her to a secluded location and assaulted her. She was taken to the district women’s hospital, where medical examinations confirmed sexual assault, and her condition was stabilized.

Police investigations, aided by the victim’s gestures and CCTV footage, traced the suspects. Ankur Verma, who runs a shop near the victim’s maternal uncle’s residence, knew her. Harshit Pandey is a local farmer. Both were identified through CCTV and confessed to the crime during police questioning, according to Superintendent of Police Vikas Kumar.

During an early morning police operation on August 13, the suspects attempted to flee toward Nepal. They opened fire on the officers, prompting a retaliatory response. Both sustained injuries in the encounter—Harshit from a bullet wound and Ankur from a fall after jumping 14 feet. Authorities recovered a country-made pistol, cartridges, and the motorcycle used in the assault.

Police confirmed that the FIR was filed immediately after the incident, and investigations continue to determine if more individuals were involved. The key evidence includes CCTV footage and the victim’s statements through gestures. Officials emphasized that the ongoing investigation is being conducted with expert assistance to ensure proper documentation and legal proceedings.