Union Minister Slams Telangana Govt Over Response to Tribal Woman's Assault

Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Thursday compared the alleged attempt to rape and murder a tribal woman in Telangana to the alleged rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata. He criticised the state government for not responding adequately because the victim is still alive. Kumar emphasised that such incidents should be taken seriously by the authorities.

Comparisons with Past Incidents

Kumar drew parallels between this incident, the Kolkata case, and the Nirbhaya case, stating, "Kolkata incident or Nirbhaya incident or this incident, same. She is alive, that's why nobody is speaking." He made these remarks after visiting the victim at Gandhi Hospital, where she is receiving treatment.

The Union Minister also highlighted previous incidents in Telangana, such as the Jubilee Hills gangrape case. He accused AIMIM members of being involved in crimes against women. Kumar alleged that both the former BRS government and the current Congress regime view these crimes through a communal lens and offer support accordingly.

Criticism of AIMIM President

Kumar criticised AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi for not addressing the alleged attempt to rape and murder the woman. Instead, Owaisi focused on actions against those who attacked shops in Jainoor, Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district. "Hindu shops were attacked. Why are you not talking about it?" Kumar questioned. He further accused Owaisi of prioritising property safety over human life.

The Union Minister urged police officials to act impartially and resist pressures from the government and rulers. He warned that failure to do so would result in continued incidents of this nature.

Details of the Incident

The situation in Jainoor town remained calm on Thursday after protests by tribal organisations against an auto-rickshaw driver's alleged attempt to rape and murder a tribal woman led to communal tension. Authorities had imposed a curfew following these events.

On August 31, an auto-rickshaw driver allegedly tried to rape a 45-year-old tribal woman in Jainoor mandal. When she raised an alarm, he allegedly attempted to murder her by hitting her with a stick, causing her to lose consciousness on the road. Police transported her to a district hospital before she was moved to a hospital in Hyderabad for further treatment.

Upon regaining consciousness, the woman informed police about the incident. The accused was arrested and charged with sexual assault, attempted murder, and under relevant sections of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, according to a senior police official.

The Union Minister's comments have sparked discussions about how such incidents are handled by authorities and political leaders. The focus remains on ensuring justice for victims and preventing future occurrences through stringent measures and impartial law enforcement.