Married woman kidnapped, gang-raped by cousins

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 19

A married woman was allegedly kidnapped and gang-raped by five persons, who are her cousins. The woman was called by one of the suspects on the pretext of applying henna in a marriage function.

The Dakha police solved the case with the arrest of four suspects identified as Barinder Singh Vicky, Sukhwinder Singh, both residents of Mandiani village in Dakha, and Taljinderdeep Singh and Khushpreet Singh, alias Khush, both residents of Bhanohar village. Another suspect Jaskaran Singh Jass, alias Mani, is yet to be arrested in the case. All suspects are aged between 22 to 28 years and have farming background.

The Dakha DSP, Gurbans Singh Bains, and the Dakha SHO, Inspector Prem Singh Bhangu, solved the case. They also addressed a press conference in this regard today.

Bains had formed five teams to nab the suspects after the incident.

Bhangu said on the intervening night of December 18-19, Haibowal- based married woman was admitted to the Civil Hospital in Ludhiana alleging rape by five persons.

After getting information, the Dakha police went to the hospital and recorded statement of the woman, Bhangu added.

As per the woman’s statement she is a henna artist. “Yesterday at 8 pm I got a call from Jaskaran, one of my known persons and the main conspirator, who asked for my services as henna expert at some marriage function in family,” the woman stated.

“Jaskaran sent his friend to pick me up. He took me in an Alto car to an NRI’s house in Mandiani village where Jaskaran and other aides were present. I was shocked to see that there was no marriage function. When I asked Jaskaran about this, he said he brought me here for developing physical relations. Then all the five accused raped me turn by turn against my wishes,” the woman alleged.

After raping the woman, the suspects dumped her near the Grand Walk mall in Ludhiana at around 1.30 am and fled from the spot today. The suspects also snatched woman’s mobile phone. The woman called her husband, who took her to hospital.

Bhangu claimed that within two hours of the crime, the Dakha police rounded up four suspects, who were travelling in an Alto car, at a naka near Dakha.