Rewari gang rape accused ‘tried to sexually assault’ 1 more last year

REWARI: Nearly 15 days after Nishu — one of the main accused in the Rewari gangrape — was arrested, a Naya Gaon resident approached police alleging Nishu had attempted to rape her in the fields a year ago.
The woman, who is in her mid-30s and a mother of four, told police in her complaint that the incident happened in September 2017, when she had gone to the fields with other women in her village for farming. “I got separated from the other women while working in the farm. It was around 5.30pm when Nishu suddenly came from behind and groped me. He overpowered me and I fell. He had already removed his pants and undergarment when he attacked me. He tried to gag me but as I screamed for help immediately, other women heard me and came to my rescue,” the woman said.

“As Nishu saw villagers nearing the spot, he ran away in his semi-naked condition. While fleeing, he threatened her against approaching police,” said Shrikant Jadhav, ADGP, Haryana and IG Rewari.

Later, when the complainant’s family members along with a few other villagers visited Nishu’s house to discuss the incident, his family told them that Nishu wasn’t home and had gone to visit his maternal uncle.

According to the woman, the matter never got reported to the police as villagers had insisted that she “compromise” with the accused and continue leading a peaceful life with her family.

“I always felt a burden on my soul about not taking action against Nishu. It was a horrifying incident for me, and I wanted him to be punished. I have now filed the complaint and hopefully action will be taken against him,” the woman said.

Following her statement, an FIR was registered under sections 376 (rape), 511 (offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, along with the SC/ST Act, at the women’s police station in Rewari on Sunday.

With this case being reported, the claims of villagers, who had told police that Nishu was a repeat offender and had raped at least five women in the past, were proved to be true. Unfortunately, no formal police complaint had been filed against Nishu before the September 12 gangrape incident.