3 more arrests in gang rape case

Three more persons were today arrested in connection with the gang rape of newly married woman in Assam's Kamrup (Rural) district, taking the total number of arrests in the case to six even as the condition of the victim remained critical.
Acting on a tip off, the three - Sonmani Das, Prabhat Das and Dipak Das - were rounded up from Kekenikuchi village, where the crime was committed, Rangia police station officer in-charge Bhupen Das said.
Three other accused - Pankaj Das, Nareswar Das and Tilak Das - who were arrested yesterday, were produced in the Rangia Sub Divisional Judicial Magistrate's court today which sent them to seven-day police custody.

The seventh accused Satish Das of Guyan was still absconding, the officer said.
Police had lodged case under sections 376(D), 325, 307 of IPC against the accused.
The woman, hailing from neighbouring Baksa district, had come with her husband to visit a relative in Kekenikuchi area of Kamrup district on Thursday evening when her husband was severely beaten up and she was taken to the nearby jungle and repeatedly raped by the seven persons.

According to the FIR, three of the accused included the woman's relative Pankaj Das.
The condition of the woman was stated to be critical and she has been shifted to Gauhati Medical College Hospital, doctors said.

The CPI(M), its various wings and AIUDF condemned the incident and demanded capital punishment for the culprits.