BENGALURU: A 45-year-old domestic help on the way to her workplace was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by three men in a stolen car in the wee hours of Thursday in Attur, north Bengaluru. While two of the culprits were shot in the leg by police and arrested in two separate incidents, the third gang member is on the run.
The suspect trio — Imran Pasha alias Bodike, 26, resident of Nelamangala and involved in more than 38 criminal cases, Shabareesh, 27, resident of JJ Nagar and accused in 22 cases, and Murali, 21, from Devanahalli — had stopped a motorist, Nagaraj, robbed him of Rs 700 and his debit card and sped away in his car past Wednesday midnight. Around 4.30am on Thursday, they dragged the domestic help into the car near Yelahanka New Town, drove to an open playground in Kenchenahalli and gang-raped her before letting her go.
The woman later filed a complaint at Yelahanka New Town police station. By then police had received Nagaraj’s complaint and launched a manhunt for the accused. A police team zeroed in on Shabareesh near Yelahanka New Town but he attacked the personnel and was shot and injured in the leg.
Inspector Arun Kumar and his team swung into action to nab Imran and Murali. They received credible information about Imran’s movement near Tirumala dhaba in the wee hours of Friday. He saw the cops and tried to sped away on his bike. But he fell after the vehicle skid. Constable Madhu Kumar rushed to catch Imran but the latter attacked him with a knife. Sensing danger, Kumar opened fire in the air and warned the suspect to surrender. When Imran did not heed his warning, Kumar shot him in the leg. Both Shabareesh and Imran are in undergoing treatment in a hospital.
Police are now searching for Murali. All three suspects are involved in robbery and theft cases. Shabareesh has a rowdysheet against him.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)