Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
India

Minor's Gang Rape: Soldier Sent To Custody, Army Assures Cooperation

Darpan News Desk IANS, 29 Dec, 2015 12:59 PM
    A West Bengal court on Tuesday sent to seven days police custody a soldier arrested for the gang rape of a teenaged girl inside a train, while the army assured assistance to police in nabbing two of its personnel alleged to have committed the crime.
     
    The 14-year-old girl, hailing from Dum Dum in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, was allegedly raped by two army men after forcing her to drink alcohol inside a reserved military compartment of the Howrah-Amritsar Express.
     
    The girl, who boarded the train from Howrah on her way to Ludhiana, was rescued in a joint effort by Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel at Madhupur station in Jharkhand on Monday.
     
    While two of the alleged culprits managed to escape, the third personnel, accused to have forced the girl to drink, was arrested by the GRP and handed over to the Howrah GRP which has now taken over the investigation.
     
    Charged with several offences including under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the arrested accused -- identified as Manjrish Tripathi -- was presented before a court in Howrah which sent him to police custody for seven days.
     
    The girl, who identified the accused in a video footage, also deposed before the magistrate.
     
    "We had sought seven days custody of the accused which the court granted us. We are studying the video footage of the train to ascertain the identity and locate the two absconding accused. We are confident of apprehending them soon," said a GRP officer.
     
    "The victim also recorded her statement before the magistrate and we are interrogating the accused to gather more information about the two absconding accused," the officer added.
     
    A medical examination conducted on the girl confirmed rape.
     
    The girl was rescued after the GRP received a complaint from her father that she fled home and boarded the train.
     
    According to the family, the girl had left her house unannounced to meet a man in Ludhiana whom she had befriended on a social networking site.
     
    The army, which has initiated a probe in the matter, assured it would assist police in locating the accused soldiers.
     
    "We have assured full cooperation to the Howrah GRP which is now investigating the case. We have also initiated a probe into the matter. We are assisting the investigators in identifying and tracking the two accused," said an army source.
     
    Meanwhile, the All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO), a students' organisation affiliated to the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), staged a demonstration in the city demanding capital punishment for the alleged rapists.
     
    Staging the demonstration outside Raj Bhavan here, some of AIDSO activists were arrested after they clashed with police.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Arvind Kejriwal Won't Apologise; BJP Says Petty Drama Is CM's Political Strategy

    Arvind Kejriwal Won't Apologise; BJP Says Petty Drama Is CM's Political Strategy
    "BJP almost begging me for an apology. Sorry. I won't oblige them. Let Jaitley-ji be cross-examined in defamation cases. Let truth prevail," Kejriwal tweeted.

    Arvind Kejriwal Won't Apologise; BJP Says Petty Drama Is CM's Political Strategy

    Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Promises Help To Promote Startups In Hyderabad

    Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Promises Help To Promote Startups In Hyderabad
    On only his second visit to the city since he became CEO of the global tech giant last year, Nadella did a balancing act to keep both Telugu states happy and had an informal interaction with budding entrepreneurs.

    Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Promises Help To Promote Startups In Hyderabad

    Congress At 131: 'Congress Darshan' Content Editor Sacked, Party Distances From Journal

    Congress At 131: 'Congress Darshan' Content Editor Sacked, Party Distances From Journal
    The Congress on Monday sacked Sudhir Joshi, content editor of the 'Congress Darshan' publication, for certain objectionable remarks on Jawaharlal Nehru and party chief Sonia Gandhi. 

    Congress At 131: 'Congress Darshan' Content Editor Sacked, Party Distances From Journal

    Disabled Have Divine Ability, Government Scheme In Guinness Records: Modi

    Disabled Have Divine Ability, Government Scheme In Guinness Records: Modi
    He also said the government's "Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme" has received a place in the Guinness World Records as the largest such scheme.

    Disabled Have Divine Ability, Government Scheme In Guinness Records: Modi

    BJP Seeks Public Apology To Jaitley, Kejriwal Hits Back

    BJP Seeks Public Apology To Jaitley, Kejriwal Hits Back
    "There is no mistake by Jaitleyji and all mistakes by Kejriwalji (in blaming him). Kejriwal himself will be in the dock

    BJP Seeks Public Apology To Jaitley, Kejriwal Hits Back

    Three Delhi Transport Officials Suspended For Corruption

    Three Delhi Transport Officials Suspended For Corruption
    ransport Minister Gopal Rai in a statement said he received some complaints on Wednesday over irregularities in issuance of LOIs to auto drivers at the transport department's Burari authority.

    Three Delhi Transport Officials Suspended For Corruption