Greater Noida: The main accused in the gang rape of a 55-year-old Dalit woman in Jewar was arrested late Tuesday night and questioned by police. He was formally arrested on Wednesday. Police said they are still trying to trace two more people who are absconding.
The woman, who had gone to collect hay from a field acquired for the Noida international airport, was allegedly raped by four men around 7am on Sunday. She was later found crying outside her home by a villager. A medical examination revealed she had suffered critical injuries, including a ruptured uterus.
Based on a complaint by the woman’s family, an FIR was registered under IPC sections 352 (use of criminal force), 376D (gang rape) and sections 3 (1) and 3 (2) (V) of the SC/ST Amendment Act at Jewar police station. One of the accused, Devdutt alias Devu (36), was arrested earlier.
Police said the main accused, Mahendra (27), who carried a reward of Rs 25,000 bounty on his head, was picked up near Dayanatpur village. He has two cases of theft lodged against him and was declared a habitual offender after a bond was issued to him in 2012 by the local magistrate under CrPC Section 110.
Meanwhile, Jewar SHO Umesh Bahadur confirmed that two beer cans were recovered from the spot and sent for forensic examination.
Senior police officers had earlier denied that any such recovery was made. Family members had told TOI that they suspected the accused were drunk.
“Mahendra often consumed liquor and drugs. Devdutt is married and has children,” the survivor’s nephew said.
The SHO said investigation was on and so far, the other accused had not been identified. A senior police officer said that they are also looking into the possibility of the accused being from other neighbouring villages.
DCP (women’s safety) Vrinda Shukla said that collection of evidence is on so that a chargesheet can be submitted soon in the case.
Following the assault, the opposition had questioned women’s safety in the state. While BSP chief Mayawati, terming the incident “shameful”, had demanded strict action against the accused and justice for the family, local functionaries of Congress and BSP had met the woman’s family.
Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad had alleged that the woman was subjected to casteist abuse as well.
Courtesy : TOI
Note: This news piece was originally published in timesofindia.com and use purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights objectives.
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