Eight years after a horrific gang rape on a national highway shocked India, a survivor has broken her silence, detailing a relentless struggle for justice, safety, and a semblance of normal life. The conviction of five men by a Bulandshahr court has brought a flicker of hope, but the deep scars remain for the woman, who was just 14 at the time of the attack and is now a 23-year-old law student.
A Life Uprooted: Constant Fear and Relocation
In an emotional conversation from an undisclosed location, the survivor described the years following the July 29, 2016, incident as "savage and inhuman." The family, which included her parents, uncle, aunt, and a young cousin, was travelling from Noida to Shahjahanpur for a funeral when their vehicle was intercepted on NH-91 near a village around 1 am.
"We changed addresses and cities multiple times to avoid recognition and harassment. But every time we were identified and vilified," she said, her voice breaking repeatedly. The trauma of that night, when 7-8 men dragged her and her mother into the bushes at gunpoint while her helpless father watched, is a wound that never heals. "I remember every face. They're not human - they are demons," she stated, referring to the continuous nightmares that plague her.
The family was forced to change homes five times in the past decade. "But how long can we keep hiding our identity from neighbours?" she asked. "Someone comes to know about our past, and it spreads like fire. People start looking at us with contempt."
Financial Ruin and an Unbreakable Resolve
The repeated relocations devastated the family financially. Her father, who once owned three cars he ran as taxis, now barely earns Rs 12,000-15,000 a month driving someone else's car on night shifts. "My education suffered as we had to change places so many times. I'm the only child and I also wanted to support my parents," she shared.
Despite the harassment—being followed, subjected to lewd comments, and having strangers roam near their home—the family's spirit did not fracture. "But we did not break. I did not break," she asserted with resilience. Her mother, holding back tears, recalled, "We were a normal family then... We had never seen a court or spoken to police. But after that day, our lives changed forever."
A Path Forged in Pain: From Victim to Aspiring Judge
Now pursuing a law degree, the survivor has channelled her anguish into a powerful purpose. She aims to become a judge to advocate for rape survivors like herself. The recent conviction of five accused has validated their long fight, but she acknowledges the road to healing is endless.
"But it will take a long time - perhaps an eternity - for us to heal. What they did didn't just violate our bodies - it also destroyed our lives, peace, our future," she said. "The trauma never leaves you. Nights are the worst. I still wake up frightened."
Her father recounted the utter helplessness of that night, hearing his daughter's pleas but being powerless against the armed assailants. That single incident cost them everything. While the court's verdict brings a crucial measure of justice, the family's journey towards reclaiming their peace and future remains a daily battle, fought with remarkable courage.
