This 2017 incident in Visakhapatnam remains a stark reminder of bystander apathy and the urgent need for collective responsibility in preventing sexual violence.

A Drunken Man Sexually Assaults A Woman In Vizag

In a spine-chilling incident, a woman was allegedly raped by a drunk man in broad daylight on a footpath along a busy road in Andhra Pradesh’s Visakhapatnam. Shockingly, the horrific crime was captured on camera, as onlookers decided to take a video of the incident, instead of helping the victim.

Reportedly, the accused, identified as 23-year-old G Shiva,  has been arrested.

According to reports, the incident happened in New Railway Colony between Tadichetlapalem and the railway station at around 2.30 pm. The accused, Ganji Siva, a 23-year-old truck cleaner, was arrested in the evening and was produced before the court on Monday. He was sent to two weeks of judicial remand. The accused, apparently heavily drunk at the time, approached her and allegedly forced himself upon her.

The entire incident was recorded by an auto-driver present at the spot. However, even as several people walked past the road, not a single person made an attempt to stop the man from committing the crime of raping the hapless woman. 

Visakhapatnam IV town police sub-inspector K Suresh told HT that the woman (43) had left her house two days ago after a family dispute.

“Apparently, she was very weak as she had not eaten for several hours and was sleeping on the footpath under the shadow of a tree, when Siva, in an inebriated condition assaulted her sexually,” Suresh said.

Passers-by did not bother to stop him even as the woman was too weak to even scream.

By the time the police rushed to the spot, Siva had already left on his bike. Based on the information given by Srinu and other locals, the police traced Siva and took him into custody.

They sent the woman to King George Hospital for medical examination. “We have booked a case under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code,” the police officer said, adding that the details of the woman were yet to be gathered.

The Following Recording Is Highly Disturbing :

https://youtu.be/5XWRoOmJ5vg

(Inputs : HT/CNN-IBN)

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in the Visakhapatnam rape case in 2017?

A 23-year-old drunk man named G Shiva sexually assaulted a 43-year-old woman on a footpath in New Railway Colony, Visakhapatnam, in broad daylight. The incident occurred around 2:30 pm on a busy road, and the victim was vulnerable after not eating for several hours. The crime was recorded by an auto-driver, but bystanders did not intervene to help.

Was the Visakhapatnam accused arrested?

Yes, the accused Ganji Siva, a 23-year-old truck cleaner, was arrested in the evening following the incident. He was produced before court on Monday and was sent to two weeks of judicial remand for the sexual assault crime.

Why did bystanders not help the Visakhapatnam rape victim?

Several people witnessed the assault on the busy footpath, but instead of intervening, an auto-driver recorded the incident on camera. The victim was too weak to scream for help after days without food following a family dispute, making her vulnerable to the attacker.

What does the Visakhapatnam case reveal about bystander apathy?

The case highlights a disturbing trend where witnesses prioritize recording crimes over preventing them. Multiple passersby ignored the assault happening in broad daylight, demonstrating how societal indifference enables sexual violence and putting responsibility on citizens to act.

What was the victim’s condition during the Visakhapatnam incident?

The victim was extremely vulnerable when attacked. She had left home two days earlier following a family dispute and had not eaten for several hours. Weakened from hunger and fatigue, she was sleeping under a tree when the drunk assailant approached her on the footpath.