Punjab police have arrested six accused in connection with the gang rape of a woman in Ludhiana, said DGP Dinkar Gupta on Thursday, 14 February. He also said that a special prosecutor will be engaged for the case who will also help during the investigation.
"A time bound investigation will be conducted," Gupta added.
On Wednesday, 13 February, a court in Ludhiana remanded the three men for seven days in police custody. The accused were manhandled by Akali Dal supporters.
The three accused identified as Sadiq Ali, Jagroop Singh and Surmo (all in age group of 20 to 30 years) were presented before Ludhiana Judicial Magistrate Ankit Aerry who remanded them in police custody for seven days.
A group of protesters owing allegiance to Youth Akali Dal led by Meetpal Singh Dugri hurled shoes and also manhandled the accused while they were being taken to the court, police said.
Victim Dragged Out of Car
A 21-year-old woman was raped allegedly by 10 men near Issewal village on the banks of Sidwan canal, about 15 km from Ludhiana on Saturday, 9 February, after the car she was travelling in with her friend was stopped and she was dragged out.
Initially the Ludhiana police had told The Quint that 16 men were involved in the case but after the arrest of an accused, an FIR has been lodged against 6 gang rape accused.
The police officials have also released sketches of suspected men in the case.
‘After Rape, Men Asked for Ransom’
The woman was travelling with a man from Ludhiana to Issewal village in the wee hours of Sunday when their car was stopped in Jagraon by men on three bikes who were following them, Superintendent of Police (Investigation) Tarun Rattan said.
As soon as they stopped, the car was attacked by the men with stones and bricks, he said.
The assailants then dragged them out of the car and took them to a vacant spot on the banks of the canal, where they called six to seven more persons and raped the woman, police said.
The woman has alleged that the accused men asked for a ransom of Rs 1 lakh to free them after raping her and when no one turned up, the accused returned the keys and fled from the spot, reported The Times of India.
Both the woman and her friend were held there till Sunday, police said.
Medical test of the survivor at the Civil Hospital has confirmed the gang rape, officials said.
Protesting the incident, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) organised in Ludhiana.
(With inputs from PTI, The Times of India.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)