Fourth rape accused held

Phagwara: The police have arrested another person, allegedly involved in kidnapping of a minor girl, keeping her hostage and gang-raping her at an isolated place in Sahni village, on Wednesday night. The suspect was arrested on Thursday. He has been identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, of Sahni village. Three of his accomplices — Harjot Singh, Gurwinder Singh and Sandeep Singh — all residents of Sahni village, were arrested on Wednesday night. The police have registered a case under Sections 376-D of the IPC and 3-4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Phagwara SP Mandeep Singh said: “The victim is a Class X student. She was waiting for a bus at Rawalpindi village when the accused offered her a lift in their car. They took her to an isolated house and raped her. The police have impounded the vehicle”. The accused were produced before a judicial magistrate, who sent them to police remand till Saturday, the SP added. TNS