70-year-old French woman allegedly beaten and raped by guard in Varanasi

A 70-year-old French woman, who raised awareness about the importance of education among women, was allegedly raped by an inebriated guard in her room at a resort in Varanasi's Madhopur village on Wednesday.

The woman had been staying at a lodge near Shooltankehswar ghat along the Ganges for the last 11 months, and had been associated with an NGO in raising awareness among rural women about importance of education and also taught them.

She alleged that the guard of the lodge barged into her room in inebriated condition at night and beat her up, leaving her injured. Later, the guard raped her.

Police said



the guard managed to flee even as police reached the spot and rushed her to the district hospital, where she is stated to be stable.

SP (rural), Amit Kumar visited the spot and carried out inspection. A forensic team also collected samples.

Kumar told HT that an FIR has been registered in this connection, and a team has been deployed to ensure the arrest of the accused.

District magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra and senior superintendent of police, Nitin Tiwari visited the victim at the hospital and instructed the doctors to provide best possible care to her. She has been kept in a special ward.