Accused arrested in minor’s gang-rape case

Panchkula, March 30

The Panchkula police have arrested a 24-year-old man in a two-month-old abduction and gang rape case today, which was then termed by them as ‘false’.

An FIR was filed on January 21 after the minor victim of the Indira colony in Sector 17 had alleged that 10 men had abducted her from the market at night and six of them had gang raped her in a nearby public toilet.

Same evening, Deputy Commissioner of Police Anil Kumar Dhawan had termed it as a ‘false’ case by posting a message on a WhatsApp group stating that “Gang rape of the Indira colony minor on investigation was found false”. This group includes Police Commissioner RC Mishra and several IAS and HCS officers. When contacted today, the DCP said, “The allegations of gang rape were found to be false. But we have arrested the lone rape accused.” According to the DCP, accused Sonu was arrested on Tuesday from Sector 16 and the victim was also called for identification. The police had earlier said that the victim had backtracked from her previous statement and hence the case was dismissed.—TNS