Murthal gangrapes: Khattar govt to file status report in HC today

The Manohar Lal Khattar Government will today file a status report in Punjab and Haryana High Court on reported mass rapes during the Jat reservation protests in Murthal.

The High Court had sought a detailed report on alleged gang-rapes in Murthal near Sonepat from the Haryana Director General of Police and the Home Secretary by Monday.

The High Court took suo motto cognizance of the issue after it emerged that some women passengers were allegedly raped near Murthal in Sonipat during the Jat agitation and said that victims of the alleged sexual assault could file complaints directly with chief judicial magistrates, instead of going to the police.

The Haryana Police had yesterday confirmed that it received a call from the woman on Saturday morning and her statement was recorded on Sunday.

"An FIR has been lodged against seven persons in connection with a gangrape on the basis of a complaint filed by a Narela-based woman today," Haryana Police, DIG, Rajshree Singh said.

Earlier, some locals, including truck drivers, had claimed they had seen women being dragged to the fields by the protesters. TV channels showed footage of garments worn by women strewn in some places.