VARANASI, June 10 -- Only a few people were present at the Kashi Dhaba when Sonam Raghuvanshi emerged in the stillness of the night and reached the eatery in Ghazipur around 1am on Monday, approaching four men seated around a table for help but faced refusal.

Some of those at the dhaba were sipping tea, others yawning, recalled dhaba owner Sahil Yadav, who is in his mid-20s.

"As they refused, the woman directly came to me and asked me for my mobile phone, saying 'bhaiya, please help me, give me your mobile, I have to talk to my family'. Then I gave her my phone. She dialed her brother's number and started crying," said Sahil.

"Thereafter, I spoke to her family member (brother) and gave him the address of my dhaba," said Sahil.

The eat...