13-year-old gang-rape victim shifted to AIIMS

New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) The 13-year-old girl, who had consumed an overdose of sleeping pills Saturday after being gang-raped during nine-day captivity last month, was shifted to AIIMS from Hedgewar Hospital Monday, her family said even as another of the eight accused was arrested.

"She was shifted to AIIMS at around 4 p.m. today (Monday). The doctors said that she will have a slow recovery. She is in the general ward," the victim's mother told IANS.

The girl, who was abducted March 15 by the eight men, including some known to her, and released from her ordeal March 24, consumed an overdose of sleeping pills Saturday morning at her house in Farsh Bazar area in east Delhi.

Meanwhile, police arrested another accused in the case taking the number tally to six.

"Out of 8 accused, six people have been arrested. One was arrested today (Monday)," said a police officer.

Earlier, the girl was admitted at the Hedgewar Hospital in east Delhi.

The victim's family had also complained of police apathy in the case.

Police swung into action on the orders of the Karkardooma court, which the family approached April 9 after earlier reportedly taking no action on their complaint.

The 13-year-old victim and her 12-year-old brother were abducted by two men known to her on March 15 from outside her house and taken to Loni on the city outskirts. There six accomplices of the two abductors joined them and raped the girl in a house, a police officer said. The boy was released the next day.

The incident comes even as the capital is witnessing outrage over the rape of a five-year-old girl whose family has alleged that Delhi Police tried to bribe them with Rs.2,000 to hush up the rape. Three Delhi Police officials, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police, have been suspended for failing to act promptly in the rape case or for behaving improperly with protesters.