A 20-year-old migrant worker from Cooch Behar, West Bengal, was allegedly gang-raped in Karnataka’s Mangaluru after being abducted, drugged, and abandoned near the Netravati riverbank on 16 April.
The Ullal Police arrested three men—auto-rickshaw driver Prabhuraj Pujari (38), and accomplices Mithun Naik (30) and Mani Kanta (30)—under stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including gang sexual assault (Section 126(2)) and abduction.
The survivor, employed at a Kerala plywood factory, had travelled to Mangaluru with a male acquaintance for job opportunities before the alleged crime unfolded following a dispute.
Survivor’s Harrowing 12-Hour Ordeal
The woman arrived in Mangaluru by bus around 10 AM on 16 April with a male companion, intending to seek work in the city. A disagreement over finances reportedly escalated, damaging her mobile phone.
While seeking repairs at a shop in Mannagudda, auto driver Prabhuraj Pujari allegedly intervened, paid ₹1,000 for the repairs, and gained her trust. Under the guise of helping her find work, he allegedly lured her to an abandoned house in Kallapu, where Mithun and Mani Kanta joined him.
The accused allegedly forced her to consume alcohol mixed with an intoxicant, rendering her semi-conscious. Police sources indicate the alleged gang-rape occurred between 2 PM and midnight, after which she escaped and stumbled to a residential area near the Netravati river.
“She was barefoot, trembling, and repeatedly cried, ‘They’ve ruined my life—call my father,’” recounted a local who assisted her. Key evidence includes CCTV footage of the accused allegedly purchasing alcohol and a digital transaction of ₹60 from the survivor’s phone to Prabhuraj’s account.
Police Crackdown and Systemic Vulnerabilities
Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal confirmed the arrests within 24 hours, citing “clinching digital evidence and eyewitness accounts.” The First Information Report (Crime No. 51/2025) invokes BNS Sections 126(2) (gang sexual assault), 140(2) (abduction with intent to harm), and 351(1) (assault with intent to disrobe).
During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to allegedly preying on the survivor’s vulnerability as a migrant worker.
Local residents near Ullal’s riverbank expressed outrage, revealing previous complaints about nighttime gatherings of suspicious groups. “We’ve flagged drug peddling and harassment here for months,” said a shopkeeper, demanding increased police patrolling.
Women’s rights groups have highlighted the case as emblematic of risks allegedly faced by inter-state migrant workers, particularly those without local support networks.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This alleged brutal crime lays bare the intersection of gender-based violence, migrant worker exploitation, and institutional failures in public safety.
While commending the police’s swift action, we must ask: How can civil society and authorities collaborate to dismantle the systemic indifference that allegedly enables predators to target vulnerable women? Share your solutions below—your voice could shape policy reforms
