Three Rewari gang-rape accused in 5-day custody

Even though two of the three main accused in Rewari gang-rape case continued to evade arrest, a Haryana court on Monday sent three arrested men, including one main accused, to five-day police custody.

One of the main accused, Nishu, as also Deendayal and Sanjeev Kumar, were earlier presented in a court in Kanina, around 350 km from here, on Monday. They will be presented in court again on September 21.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Haryana Police on Sunday evening announced the arrest of Nishu. SIT chief Nazneen Bhasin had said that raids were on to nab two other main accused -- soldier Pankaj and Manish.

The three main accused had gang-raped the 19-year-old woman on September 12. Deendayal is the owner of a tubewell room where the crime took place in Mahendragarh district whereas Sanjay Kumar is the medical practitioner who had treated the victim. Both did not inform police despite in the know of the crime.

Police had earlier announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for providing information on the absconding accused, all residents of Kanina village.

The victim, who has identified her attackers, and her parents had earlier accused police of not taking action and dealing with the matter casually. The family alleged that 8-10 men could be involved in the gang rape.

The accused, who belong to the same village as the victim and knew her, allegedly kidnapped the victim from Kanina bus stand while she was on her way for coaching classes on Wednesday.

She said that they gave her sedative-laced water to drink and gang-raped her in a room in agricultural fields till she fell unconscious. They later dumped her at a bus stop near her village.

Accused Manish even called up her father and told him to pick her from the bus stand. The victim had topped board examinations and was felicitated by the government for her academic achievement.

--IANS

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