India: 25-year-old Hyderabad woman claims she was sexually assaulted by 139 people over 10 years

Dubai: A 25-year-old woman living in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, has filed an official police complaint testifying that as many as 139 people sexually assaulted her for 10 years. Hyderabad’s Panjagutta police, on Thursday, registered a 42-page First Information Report (FIR) in this regard, according to Indian news reports. Social media users are upset and enraged, as many urged the government to take severe action against the culprits.

A Facebook user Divya Rathore commented: "I'm shocked! I don't know how she managed to survive all these years. It’s a wake-up call. We think family is the safest place to be. It’s a shame!"

The complainant claimed that three months after her marriage in June 2009, her sexual harassment and physical assault at the hands of her in-laws began which went on for nine months. She told police that she got divorced in December 2010, but the harassment did not stop.

Talking to media, police officials said: "The woman claimed she got threats and sexual abuse and faced exploitation by 139 people over time in many places. She was scared due to threats from those accused, and she delayed in filing the complaint. We have registered a case and are further investigating."

Facebook user Usha Shinde commented: "We are a country of billions, out of which 48 per cent are women. Shouldn't our government's top priority be the safety of women? I cannot even imagine the pain the woman would have gone through. India continues to be one of the most unsafe countries for women."

According to multiple news reports, a case under relevant Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections and other relevant legal provisions was registered on Thursday. The woman was sent for a medical examination.

It’s a known fact that in most rape cases that happens within the family, the culprit is someway related to the victim. The initiative needs to be well thought out so that it can be useful to everyone.

In its annual report, the National Crime Records Bureau of India (NCRB) said there were 337,922 reports of violence against women such as rape, molestation, abduction and cruelty by husbands and his relatives.