Indian Woman Molested in Ambulance Returning Home with Ailing Husband

In a horrifying turn of events, a woman in India’s Uttar Pradesh was molested inside an ambulance, and her critically ill husband died after his oxygen support was disconnected during the incident.

This news comes just weeks after the rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor that sparked deadly protests across India.

A driver of a private ambulance, along with his helper, made offensive sexual advances to the wife of a patient while the latter was being transported home, local police said. The brother of the woman was confined in the back area of the ambulance when the assault took place.

The patient was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Lucknow, but due to steep hospital bills, the wife made the decision to tend to him at home, prompting the rental of the private ambulance whose contact was given by a doctor.

Driver Abandons Woman, Patient Halfway

As per the woman, upon continually resisting the culprits’ advances, the driver stopped the ambulance 150 km from their destination and forced her husband, her brother and herself out of the vehicle. The patient tried to fight back for his wife, but was thrown off the vehicle, sustaining injuries that he later succumbed to along with his illness that required him to be on constant oxygen supply.

The accused had stolen cash and jewellery from the woman, along with hospital reports, and fled the scene. Police were called by the woman, and they arranged for another ambulance to rescue the victim and her family, however the patient was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Police stated that they have lodged a case regarding the incident against the accused and are trying to arrest the individuals involved.

India: Low Conviction Rates Despite Staggering Numbers of Sexual Violence

The recent rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata sparked deadly protests across India, with people demanding change in the nation and justice for the victim. Despite changes to the criminal justice system, that comprises of tougher sentences, brought in after the 2012 rape and murder of a 23-year-old in India, campaigners state that very little has changed.

Authorities have taken steps to curb the numbers, and penalties include a minimum sentence of ten years that could extend to life in prison, in addition to the death penalty for offences against victims under the age of 12. Additionally, 16-year-old perpetrators are tried as adults for related offences.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, in 2012, up to 25,000 rape cases were recorded in India, and annual numbers have remained staggeringly high since then with over 30,000 annually.

Criminal lawyer Rebecca M. John stated that an absence of consistent law application, and people’s lack of fear of the law remain the main factors that allow rapists to get away with their crimes.

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