Three men were arrested for allegedly gang-raping a 30-year-old nurse who accidentally knocked on their hotel room while visiting a friend near the railway station area on Wednesday night, police said.
The accused — Ghanshyam Rathod (27), Rishikesh Chavan (25) and Kiran Rathod (25) — were arrested within hours of the complaint and remanded to four days of police custody by a local court.
Mistaken room led to crime
According to the police, the survivor had travelled to the city to meet a friend who had promised financial help, as she was facing monetary difficulties. She works as a nurse at a private hospital and is the primary breadwinner of her family. Her husband, who was earlier unemployed, has only recently started working. The couple has an infant child.
Police said the woman was staying at a hotel and stepped out around 11 pm to take a phone call. While returning, she mistakenly went to the second floor and knocked on room number 205 instead of 105.
“When she entered the room, she saw three men consuming alcohol and asked for her friend by name. She was told he was not there. As she turned to leave, one of the accused allegedly claimed that her friend was inside and forcibly pulled her back,” said Inspector Pravina Yadav of Vedant Nagar police station.
Assault lasted several hours
Police said the accused locked the door, forced the woman to consume alcohol and sexually assaulted her over several hours, between 11 pm on Wednesday and 3 am on Thursday. The men allegedly fled immediately after the crime.
Between 3 am and 4 am, the survivor managed to open the door, escape and raise an alarm before approaching the police to file a complaint.
Swift arrests using technical inputs
Inspector Yadav said the accused trio, who are friends, were traced and arrested within three hours of the complaint using technical surveillance and local intelligence inputs. Two of the accused are recovery agents with a bank, while the third is an MBA student, police added.
A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for gang rape, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation. Further investigation is underway.
Police assure support to survivor
Police officials said the survivor is being provided medical and counselling support. Authorities reiterated that her identity would be protected and that the investigation would be conducted with sensitivity and urgency.
The incident has sparked concern over women’s safety in hotels and public spaces, particularly for those travelling alone under distress.