Gang-rape: Five booked

Mandi Ahmedgarh: A minor Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped by five people at a deserted tube-well room situated on the outskirts of her native Dhulkot village, five days ago.

Three of the five accused have been identified as Inder Jit Singh, Jaggie and Jassi of the same village.

The police have launched hunt for the accused after registering a case under Sections 363 and 376 D of the IPC and Section 6 of the Protection of Children against Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) on the statement of victim’s father Kulwant Singh.

He said his daughter had gone to attend classes at Bagga Computer Centre at Yash Painter Wali Gali last Saturday, when Jaggie picked his daughter from the centre at 10.30 am on the pretext of dropping her home. Since the duo was known to the family and the girl, she sat in the car. But the suspects instead of dropping her home forcibly took her to a deserted tube-well room situated on the outskirts of the village. Jassi and two unidentified persons reached the room later and all five accused raped her.

The victim informed her mother on the same day and the family started visiting various police stations in Ludhiana district, but their complaint was not lodged on the pretext of jurisdiction.

Ultimately Kulwant Singh approached the local police and registered his complaint.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Palwinder Singh Cheema said though the crime was committed at Dhulkot village, which falls in Ludhiana district, the case was registered keeping in view the agony of the victim’s family.

“Though our team will face some problems during investigations and conducting raids on residences and hideouts of the suspects as it is outside the jurisdiction of our circle, we have registered the case to prevent harassment to the victim’s family,” Cheema said, maintaining that the suspects were yet to be arrested.

Meanwhile, Bagga Computer Centre staff said the victim had not attended classes on the fateful day. —OC