Cops release sketch of suspect

Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 19

After failing to get any clue about the suspect’s identity in the car rape case, the Mohali police today released an artist’s impression of his facial description.

Mohali SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar said the suspect was around 35 years old with a well-built body. He has a clean-shaven round face with small black eyes and close cropped hair. At the time of the crime, he was wearing a peach T-shirt and was speaking in Hindi and Punjabi.

In her statement to the police, the victim said he was on his mobile phone when he offered to give her a lift in his car and his conversation pertained to some financial transactions.

The victim said he remained on his phone for most part and when she pointed out that they had passed her office, he said he would just take a couple of more minutes to pass on a message and diverted the car elsewhere.

The police, however, claimed that when they scrutinised the mobile call data of the particular area, they did not come across records of any such call that could be linked to the accused.

Statement of three eyewitnesses recorded

The police have recorded the statement of three labourers who claim to be eyewitnesses to the said incident. The police claimed that according to the witnesses they saw a car parked in a deserted spot. When they approached it, the driver made a u-turn and sped away, abandoning the girl at the spot. The police have also recorded the statement of two motorcyclists who were passing by and saw the victim weeping at the spot. They had informed the police about the incident and also gave the victim some water to drink.

Security up around call centres

Learning a lesson from the incident, the police have stepped up security around call centres. SP Varun Sharma said more police personnel in plain clothes had been deployed at vulnerable places to keep an eye out for suspicious elements. Regular patrolling has also been increased.

Advisory on women safety not followed

The police said several establishments were not providing adequate security to women employees, including pick and drop facilities during late-night shifts. Sharma said guidelines and advisories issued by the Central Government in this regard following directions of the Supreme Court were being ignored.

Police scan car ownership records

Mohali SP Varun Sharma said the police checked the ownership records of all white Etios Liva cars registered in that area. They also verified such cars being plied as local radio taxis. There are about 300 such cars in Mohali, but none could be linked to the crime so far, he said.

The suspect is around 35 years old with a well-built body. He has a clean-shaven round face with small black eyes and close cropped hair. At the time of the crime, he was wearing a peach T-shirt and was speaking in Hindi and Punjabi. — Harcharan Singh Bhullar, Mohali SSP