Stage performer from Chhattisgarh drugged and gang-raped in Jharkhand

Medininagar: A 21-year-old stage performer from Chhattisgarh was allegedly gang-raped by her co-artistes in Jharkhand's Palamu district, police said on Monday.

The woman was allegedly raped by three co-artistes hailing from Palamu in a car after being given an intoxicating substance by them, a police officer said.

"Two accused have been arrested and the survivor has been admitted to a hospital in Palamu where her medical test will be conducted," Vishrampur Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Rakesh Singh told PTI.

The incident occurred on a road in Vishrampur police station area, around 200 km from state capital Ranchi, late on Saturday.

The accused fled the spot after leaving the woman there in an unconscious state, he said.

The SDPO said the female artiste had come from Chhattisgarh for a programme at Vishrampur in Palamu district.

"Due to some reasons, that programme was not organised. So, she left for another function in Hussainabad with her male co-artistes," he said.

"On the way to Hussainabad, however, she was allegedly given some intoxicating substance by the accused, who then took turns to rape her in the car. They left her beside the road in an unconscious state and fled," Singh said.

Police were informed about the incident on Sunday, following which two accused were arrested and a manhunt is on for the third person, he added.