3 more arrested in Bulandshahr gang rape case

Shahira Naim

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Tribune News Service

Lucknow, August 9

The Uttar Pradesh Police late last night arrested three more persons in connection with the gang rape of a mother-daughter duo at Bulandshahr on the intervening night of July 29-30. However, the arrests raise more questions than they answer.

Within hours of the Allahabad High Court seeking a progress report as regards probe into the case, the state police claimed to have arrested the mastermind of the case, Salim, along with Sajid and Zubair. All of them belong to Kannauj and not to any criminal tribe, as claimed by the police earlier.

Another accused is said to be absconding and hiding somewhere in Jharkhand, claimed the police.

Earlier, the police theory revolved around the crime being the handiwork of the Bawaria tribe, who, according to IG (Law and Order) HR Sharma, became more active in the rainy season.

Addressing the media in Noida today, IG (Meerut zone) Sujith Pandey, entrusted with the investigation into the case by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, claimed the gang rape survivors had identified the three accused.

Violating Supreme Court guidelines, the Meerut IG even produced father of the minor rape victim before the media to buttress his claim. However, later the victim’s father contradicted the police version saying the survivors did not identify the accused as it was too dark and the police were in a great hurry.

The IG said some personal articles of the rape survivors, including jeans, T-shirt, were recovered from Sajid. He said the police had conclusive proof against the accused and it would be produced in the court at the appropriate time.

Sources claim the three accused arrested earlier—Rahisul of Sutari village in Bulandshahr, Shabit of Hapur and Jabar Singh of Gautam Buddha Nagar—had not mentioned names of the persons arrested yesterday.

On the intervening night of July 29-30, more than six armed men blocked the National Highway 91 near Dostpur village in Bulandshahr and stopped a car carrying a family to Shahjehanpur.

They tied the men and gang-raped the minor girl and her 35-year-old mother.