In a horrific incident that has sent shockwaves through the National Capital Region, a 25-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped and brutally assaulted inside a moving van in Faridabad before being thrown onto the road, sustaining severe injuries. This case tops a day of significant developments ranging from labour unrest in the gig economy to a key diplomatic mission and a major health regulation.
Woman Assaulted for Hours in Moving Vehicle
The terrifying ordeal began on Monday night when the woman accepted a lift in a van. According to police, two men inside the vehicle allegedly raped and assaulted her as it travelled through isolated, fog-enshrouded areas of Faridabad. She was held captive for nearly three hours.
In a final act of cruelty, the perpetrators threw her out of the moving van on the Gurgaon–Faridabad road. The fall caused serious facial injuries that required 12 stitches. Following a complaint by her family, a case was registered at the Kotwali police station. A crime branch team acted swiftly and detained two suspects on Tuesday.
Gig Companies Offer Festive Incentives Amid Strike Call
In the business sector, food delivery giants Zomato and Swiggy have announced increased incentives for their delivery partners on New Year’s Eve. The companies label this a "standard festive protocol" aimed at ensuring smooth service during one of the year's peak ordering periods.
However, the move is also seen as a preemptive measure to counter a nationwide strike called for December 31 by gig workers' unions, including the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers’ Union and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers. The unions are demanding better pay, improved safety, and more dignified working conditions.
Diplomacy, Health Ban, and Global Tensions
On the diplomatic front, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was in Dhaka on Wednesday to attend the funeral of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. During his visit, he met with BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and handed over a personal letter of condolence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conveying India's deepest sympathies.
In a significant public health decision, the Centre has prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of immediate-release oral formulations of the painkiller Nimesulide that exceed 100 mg. The Union Health Ministry's notification stated that such high doses pose potential risks to human health and that safer alternative medications are readily available.
Internationally, tensions surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war escalated as Russia's defence ministry released night-time footage purportedly showing debris from a Ukrainian drone shot down near one of President Vladimir Putin's residences in north-west Russia. Moscow described the alleged incident as a "terrorist act" and a personal attack on Putin, claims that Kyiv has dismissed as fabricated. The release of the video comes at a sensitive time, as fragile peace negotiations continue.
