Woman ‘gang-raped’ in Balrampur thrashed, her capillaries ruptured — postmortem report

No mention of vaginal injuries or fractures in post-mortem report of 22-year-old woman allegedly gang-raped in UP's Balrampur. Autopsy reveals injuries on chest and thighs.

The cremation ground, where the last rites of the 22-year-old woman took place | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Balrampur: The 22-year-old woman who was allegedly gang-raped this week by two men in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, had ruptured blood capillaries and died of shock and haemorrhage, according to her post-mortem report. This suggests she was possibly thrashed with blunt objects.

The postmortem report, seen by ThePrint, shows that the woman sustained 10 injuries, both contusions and abrasions, on her right breast, cheek, near her nipple, and her thigh, among other body parts. 

While contusions are bruises that appear on account of bleeding under the skin due to trauma of some kind, abrasions are external injuries caused by blunt objects. The nature of her injuries suggests she was hit on different parts of her body.

The injuries, the report says, measured between 3 cm X 1 cm on her breast and 2 cm X 1 cm on her cheek. The post-mortem report does not mention any vaginal injuries or fractures, but does show her hymen was ruptured.

“Antemortem injuries led to death. Immediate cause of death is shock and hemorrhage,” the report says.

The 22-year-old woman, who worked with an NGO, was allegedly raped by two men — identified as Shahid and a 16-year-old — on 29 September in Gesadi village of Balrampur. Both have been arrested. 

According to the FIR registered on the basis of her family’s complaint, after the assault, the woman returned home on a rickshaw in a semi-conscious state. She had been “missing” the whole day.

She allegedly complained of uneasiness and stomach pain and died hours later, while her family was taking her to hospital.

The Balrampur gang rape is the second alleged instance of fatal sexual assault to emerge from Uttar Pradesh within days. Earlier this week, a 20-year-old woman from Hathras died after she was allegedly gang-raped by four men from her village. The suspects in that case have been arrested too.

‘Hymen ruptured and a clot found, no presence of semen’

The post-mortem report does not mention vaginal rupture or any other internal injuries on the victim’s private parts. The doctor who conducted the autopsy told ThePrint that her body had no vaginal rupture, adding that an initial examination had not revealed presence of semen in or close to the vagina.

However, the doctor added that sexual assault can’t be ruled out yet. 

According to the autopsy report, there is a contusion measuring 5 cm X 1 cm at the back of her thigh, about 4 cm away from her private parts.

The victim’s hymen, the report said, was found to ruptured and a “mild hemorrhagic clot” observed in the vagina. “We are carrying out the examination, taking opinions and not ruling out anything at this stage,” the doctor said.

‘Injuries on arms, leg, chest’

The victim, the post-mortem report states, also sustained injuries on her arms, leg, and chest, some measuring as long as 15 cm. A contusion discovered on her chest measured 15 cm X 16 cm. The contusion on her thigh measured 10 cm X 1 cm, while an abrasion measuring 4cm was spotted on her leg, below the knee, the report says. 

Speaking to ThePrint, a forensic expert who refused to be named said her injuries show “that she was beaten up with a blunt object”. 

This report has been updated to clarify that the victim worked with an NGO.