Minor's gang-rape: Army assures police of full cooperation

Assuring full assistance to the police, the army on Tuesday initiated a probe into allegations that two of its men gang-raped a West Bengal minor inside a military reserved coach of the Howrah-Amritsar Express.

The victim, who boarded the train from Howrah on her way to Ludhiana, was rescued in a joint effort by RPF and GRP personnel at Madhupur station in Jharkhand on Monday.

She later identified her tormentors in a video footage.

The girl was rescued after the GRP received a complaint by her father that she has fled home and boarded the train.

According to police, the army men forced her to drink alcohol and took turns to rape her.

While two of the soldiers fled, a third one who allegedly forced her to drink, was arrested by the GRP.

"We have assured full cooperation to the Howrah GRP which is now investigating the case. We have also initiated a probe into the matter," an Army source said, adding that the police were being assisted in identifying and tracking the two absconding army soldiers.

Formally taking over the investigations, the Howrah GRP has charged the arrested soldier, Manjrish Tripathi, with several offences, including gang-rape and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.