Family approaches SC panel, demands arrest of accused

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 26

While alleging that the police was dithering on arresting the prime accused in the Jandiala Guru gangrape case, the victim and the members of her family today appeared before the members of Punjab State SC Commission here.

They alleged that out of seven suspects booked, the police had arrested three persons while three of their accomplices including the prime suspects were yet to be arrested. They alleged that though the police had registered a kidnapping case, it had failed to register a rape case against the accused.

Members of the State SC Commission headed by Dr Raj Singh said they recommend the medical examination of the victim from a medical board to ascertain the truth and provide justice to the victim who had given a written complaint to the commission.

The Jandiala police have arrested three persons including a woman in the kidnapping and rape case of the minor girl. They were Kuldeep Singh of Inderwal village, Manjinder Singh alias Peeta of Dheerekot village and Jinder Kaur of Jandiala Guru. Six persons had been booked in the case and the remaining three accused—Hardeep Singh, Lakhwinder Singh and Sukhwinder Kaur— are yet to be arrested.

Former National SC Commission vice-chairman Raj Kumar Verka had also directed the police to add sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Prevention of Atrocities to SC/ST Act in the case.

The Jandiala police had registered a case under Sections 363, 366-A and 120-B of the IPC against the six persons. Police officials had pointed out that the sections of rape (Section 376 of the IPC) and the POCSO Act would be added only after getting the medical reports of the victim.

They said the police was awaiting the final opinion by the Forensic Department for confirmation of rape. As soon as the police would get the medical reports of the victim, relevant sections of rape and the POCSO Act would be added in the FIR.

The case

On April 15, the victim was going to her school when she was waylaid by a boy known to her. The accused offered her tea laced with some intoxicant. Thereafter, she fell unconscious. When she regained consciousness, she found herself in a hotel room surrounded by seven youngsters. The victim alleged that they injected her with drugs and took turns to rape her. She was kept in “illegal” detention and was sexually assaulted repeatedly. She was at a secluded place on April 25.