Granthi booked for blackmailing, raping girl

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 25

Mattewal police have booked a gurdwara priest (granthi) for allegedly blackmailing and raping a 23-year-old girl, though no arrest has been made in the case so far. The accused has been identified as Jugraj Singh, a resident of Jabbowal village here. He worked as a granthi at a gurdwara in Kalerbala village.

The victim told the police that last year when she had gone to answer the call of nature in the bathroom of her house, the accused entered it and captured her pictures. She said the accused then started blackmailing her for making physical relations with him and threatened to post the same on social media if she refused.

She said fearing social stigma, she did not tell anyone about this. She said the accused started meeting her on one pretext or other, but she always tried to avoid him. She said in April this year, she had gone to pay obeisance at the gurdwara when the accused again threatened to post her pictures on social media and later raped her. She said her family came to know about this and she narrated her tale of woes to them.

Following this, a complaint was lodged with the police and a case under Sections 376, 295 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 67 and 67-A of the Information and Technology Act against Jugraj.

Bhupinder Kaur, investigating officer in the case, said the medical examination of the victim was conducted and raids were on to nab the suspect. Further investigation was under progress, she added.

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