Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 6 (HBTV): Immediately upon arriving in Varanasi on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a detailed briefing from the Police Commissioner, divisional commissioner, and district magistrate regarding a recent gang rape case in the city. He instructed officials to take the strictest possible action against the culprits and implement necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

In the case, a total of nine accused have been sent to judicial custody by the District and Sessions Court. Police had found the victim in an unconscious state on April 4.

A total of 23 individuals have been named as accused. Of them, nine have been arrested so far, with police stating that efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects. The case has been registered under relevant sections at the Lalpur Pandeypur police station.

According to police, the girl was lured, taken away, and raped repeatedly over several days. The victim alleged that 23 people raped her over a span of seven days.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived at the venue ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s public meeting to review preparations.

Reinforcing his commitment to infrastructure development, particularly in road connectivity, PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several major road projects in the region.

These include a road bridge between the Varanasi Ring Road and Sarnath, flyovers at the Bhikharipur and Manduadih crossings, and a highway underpass road tunnel on NH-31 at the Varanasi International Airport. The projects are worth over INR 980 crore.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, he will also inaugurate two 400 KV and one 220 KV transmission substations, along with associated transmission lines in Jaunpur, Chandauli, and Ghazipur districts of the Varanasi division. These are valued at over INR 1,045 crore.

Additionally, he will lay the foundation stone for a 220 KV transmission substation at Chaukaghat in Varanasi, a 132 KV transmission substation in Ghazipur, and an augmentation of the electricity distribution system in Varanasi city, collectively worth over INR 775 crore.

To improve facilities for security personnel, the Prime Minister will inaugurate a Transit Hostel at the Police Line and barracks at the PAC Ramnagar Campus. He will also lay the foundation stone for new administrative buildings at various police stations and a residential hostel at the Police Line.

Further, PM Modi will inaugurate several educational projects, including a Government Polytechnic College at Pindra, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Government College at Barki village, 356 rural libraries, and 100 Anganwadi centres.

He will also lay the foundation stone for the renovation of 77 primary school buildings under the Smart City Mission and the construction of a new building for Kasturba Gandhi School at Cholapur, Varanasi.

To boost sports infrastructure in the city, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a synthetic hockey turf with floodlights and a spectator gallery at Uday Pratap College and a mini stadium at Shivpur.

He will also inaugurate the redevelopment of Samne Ghat and Shastri Ghat along the Ganga River, 130 rural drinking water schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission worth over INR 345 crore, improvement works in six municipal wards of Varanasi, and landscaping and sculpture installations at various locations across the city.

(ANI)