19-year-old CBSE topper from North Indian State Haryana’s Rewari alleges a horrific gangrape by 12 while returning from coaching centre.
Haryana Police releases pictures of three accused; one arrested so far, the other two prime accused who are still on the run, raids continue.
A nineteen-year-old CBSE topper from a village near Rewari in Haryana has alleged that she was kidnapped and gang-raped while returning from her coaching class. The teenager, who was felicitated by the President of India Mr. Ram nath Kovind after she topped the CBSE board exam, was returning from a coaching centre in Kanina in Mahendragarh district of Haryana when the incident occurred.
She was allegedly drugged and gang-raped at a room adjoining a tubewell in an agricultural field, Haryana police said.
An official of Women Police station, Rewari, told to the Indian Media that a ‘zero FIR’ was lodged on the complaint of the girl, and the investigation was being conducted by the Mahendergarh police as the incident took place under their jurisdiction.
Zero FIR can be filed in any police station, irrespective of place of incident or jurisdiction and the same can be later transferred to the concerned Police Station.
The survivor told the police that the accused kidnapped her on Wednesday and took her to a secluded place in their car where she was gangraped after being offered a drink laced with sedatives.
According to a National television of India three people kidnapped her in Kanina from where she was taken to a farm in Jhajjar district, where she was gang-raped by around 12 people. The report also claims that the accused belong to the same village as that of the survivor.
The accused later left her near a bus stop in Kanina. According to the report, the family of the teenager also alleged that the perpetrators had threatened to kill the teenager if she reported the crime to the police.
They also alleged that the police initially refused to file an FIR in the case.
A mahapanchayat or congregation of panchayats of 25 villages, was held in Haryana’s Kosli town in which a notice was issued that no practising lawyer would help any of the accused in the alleged gang rape of the 19-year-old girl. The members of the panchayat will also meet the Bar Association in Chandigarh to appeal to lawyers not to help the accused.
A letter has also been sent to Haryana Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya for stringent action to be taken sans further lapses.
In the police complaint registered at Kanina, police have identified three accused- Pankaj, Manish, and Nishu. Pankaj is a defence personnel stationed in Kota,Rajasthan.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has directed the police to take stringent action against the accused in the case.
A sub-inspector, Hiramani of a women’s police station in Rewari suspended for delaying action in registering the 19-year-old Rewari gangrape survivor’s FIR, which could have aided the escape of the accused. Hiramani was pulled up for not registering the complaint and making the family rush from pillar to post.
According to reports, a departmental inquiry has been ordered against her. Hiramani’s suspension comes soon after Rewari Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Duggal was transferred. The sub-inspectors suspension was recommended by Duggal before his transfer.
“The orders to suspend Hiramani from the Women’s Police Station, Rewari were already issued..She has been suspended over allegations of delay in taking action on the complaint and negligence in handling the case,” a Rewari district police official said.
Rahul Sharma, who assumed charge as new district police chief of Rewari after Rajesh Duggal was moved out as SP, said arresting the absconding accused was a priority. “However, it (the case) doesn’t end with the arrest of the accused, but it ends with their conviction. So, securing evidence and ensuring they get convicted, through a fast track court, would be the next step,” he said.
Raids continued at many places to nab the two absconding prime suspects accused. Haryana Police’s Special Task Force, a unit specialising in tackling organised crime, was also roped in to nab the absconders, police said. Police officials said Armyman Pankaj and another person Manish were two prime accused still on the run.
Three men including one of the prime accused, Nishu, who were arrested by Haryana Police Special Investigation team (SIT )were produced before a court in Kanina town. The police sought a seven-day remand for Nishu, Deendayal and Sanjeev.
They said they needed to make recoveries from Nishu and wanted him to identify the hideouts of his associates. The police also submitted that they needed to arrest the two prime accused, who are on the run, for which they need to interrogate those arrested.
Police said the arrested prime accused Nishu was booked under various provisions of the IPC including 376 D (gang rape), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence) and 365 (Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person).
Meanwhile, residents of the village where the woman was allegedly gangraped, claimed that the spot where the crime took place was infamous for nefarious activities. They alleged that there were incidents of girls being harassed by vagabonds in the past as well.
“We demand an exemplary punishment for the accused. However, our plea is that no innocent youth of the village should be harassed by the police as many have been called for questioning,” one of the villagers said.
Meanwhile, the family of the survivor has returned a cheque of Rs. 2 lakh offered by the government as compensation. Her mother said that she wants justice and not money.
The second-year student, who was rewarded by the President of India was prepearing for the Railways exam.
(With inputs from Indian agencies)
> Pratyusha Mukherjee
