A police team headed by a sub-inspector-rank officer has been sent to Bengal to get details about a middle-aged woman, who was allegedly subjected to sexual assault in Bihta, around 40km southwest of Patna.

The woman, said to be a resident of Balrampur village under the jurisdiction of Baruipur police station in south 24 Parganas district of Bengal, was allegedly gang-raped and dumped near Bihta on Monday evening. Some personnel of the National Disaster Response Force stationed in Bihta spotted the woman writhing in pain and admitted her to a government hospital.

Station house officer (SHO) of Bihta police station Mohan Kumar Singh said a police team, headed by sub-inspector of police Mukesh Kumar, has been sent to Bengal to ascertain the identity of the victim, who is now under treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

The SHO said the 35-year-old woman is not in a condition to divulge any more information. “At times she speaks in Bengali, a language not known to the cops deputed at the police station,” he said, adding that a woman constable has been deployed to take care of the victim at the hospital. The police officer said preliminary investigation confirmed rape.

“Efforts are on to ascertain the identity of the accused. It is also being ascertained as to how she reached Bihta where she was found in an unconscious state,” he added. She was shifted to the PMCH on Tuesday for better treatment.

“We thought it better to refer the woman to the PMCH for better treatment,” a paramedical staff posted at the Bihta hospital said. He added that the victim was examined at Bihta hospital, which confirmed the rape.

Earlier, Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj said the victim told the police that four to five people had raped her before she was dumped at a secluded place on the Patna-Bihta road.

The SSP added that she parted from her husband at Howrah Junction in Bengal and boarded a train. She, however, failed to explain how she reached Bihta.

“It would be easier for the police to crack the case once it is ascertained how she reached Bihta,” he said.

Gruesome tale

September 21: Victim leaves husband at Howrah station
September 23: National Disaster Response Force personnel find her wreathing in pain in Bihta Admit her to Bihta-based government hospital
September 24: Referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital
September 25: Police team sent to Bengal to get details of the woman