US woman gangrape: Police arrest four accused

Four persons have been arrested in connection with the alleged gangrape of a US national in a five-star hotel here earlier this year.
A senior police officer said they arrested a tour guide, a driver, a cleaner and a hotel staff. He, however, refused to reveal the names of the four as police will first conduct a test identification parade.
The arrest came on a day when the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) issued a notice to Delhi Police asking them why the Rape Crisis Cell of the women's panel was not informed when the victim's statement was recorded.
In her complaint, the US national had alleged that she was raped by five persons in a five-star hotel in April. Police are on a lookout for the fifth accused as the woman has not shared details about him, said the officer.

The remaining four accused, aged between 25-40, had joined the probe. Today, they were called for questioning at Connaught Place police station and after a five-hour interrogation, they were arrested, he said.
They were being questioned extensively following the registration of an FIR on December 3.

They will be produced in court tomorrow where their police custody will be sought for custodial interrogation to gain more evidence, he added.
The mobile phones of the accused have been seized by the police.
The court will have to sanction the Test Identification Parade and it will take some time, sources said.
The woman is likely to return to the US tomorrow and if the court grants permission to conduct identification parade, it might be done on Skype, they added.

The US national arrived here a few days ago to join the probe and recorded her statement in front of a judicial magistrate where she reiterated the charges she had made in her complaint.
Earlier, she had said that she was not "satisfied" with the probe and was ready to come to India to identify the accused.
On December 8, the tourist guide, accused of raping the woman, along with his accomplices, was questioned by police after his arrival from Nepal.
Police had identified the man and had contacted him while he was in Nepal.
The woman had alleged that she was raped by the men for two days. They also threatened her with dire consequences if she reported the matter to anybody.

She had also stated that the accused had made a video of the act and had threatened to make it public if she reported the matter to anyone. She had also told police that the accused had claimed to have sexually assaulted a couple of other female tourists as well.
A team of psychologists and psychiatrists have been assisting the lady in recalling the details of the incident. The team is also working with Delhi Police in their investigation to tie up loose ends.
"Though she is sad about the fact that there was a delay in registering the FIR and arresting them, she is positive that at least four persons have been arrested. She is hopeful that Delhi Police will do their best so that these people are convicted.

"She is inclined to assist police and prosecution in taking this case to its logical end. We hope police does not repeat the lapses," Mrityunjay Kumar, the US woman's lawyer said.
The sources also said the identification parade can be conducted tomorrow.