40-year-old arrested for minor’s rape in Barnala

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Barnala, June 8

The Barnala police on Friday arrested Charanjit Singh (40) for the rape of a minor, who had alleged that she was raped in the Barnala Civil Hospital by hospital employees.

As per information, on June 1, the victim had alleged that she was raped in the Barnala Civil Hospital during the intervening night of May 28 and 29 where she had been staying with her ailing mother since May 22.

She alleged that during the night of the crime, two youngsters took her to the blood bank and raped her.

The police had registered a case against Gaurav and Mani under Sections 376-C, 376-D and 342 of the IPC and Sections 4 and 5 of the POSCO Act.

When cops checked CCTVs footage of the hospital, nothing matching with the statement of the girl was found as during the night of crime, she did not come out of the room of the hospital, where her mother was admitted.

“But during our investigation, it has come to light that she was raped by Charnjit Singh, who is a friend of her father, at her residence on May 21. We have arrested Charnjit and started further investigation,” said Gurveer Singh, SHO, Barnala police station.

The SHO further said the accused went to the victim’s house on May 21 to know about the health of her mother and raped the victim after finding her alone in a room as her mother was resting in another room.

The accused threatened to kill her if she disclosed his name to anyone. Since the victim started feeling pain on May 29 and her health deteriorated, she was taken to hospital on May 31, where under scare of accused, she named Gaurav and Mani.

“But when our woman Sub-Inspector Parminder Kaur assured her of help, the victim disclosed the real story,” the SHO said.