18-year-old Machhiwara gang-rape victim succumbs

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 21

An 18-year-old gang-rape victim of Machhiwara died at Civil Hospital in Ludhiana on Wednesday.

She was gang-raped by three persons, including a minor boy, on Monday. Accused Gurinder Singh and Yadwinder Singh were arrested on Tuesday and Gurinder’s minor brother was arrested on Wednesday.

The SHO, Machhiwara police station, Manavjit Singh, said the victim had suffered serious internal injuries in the sexual assault and she was also forced to consume poison by the accused.

Earlier, the police had registered a case of gang rape, but now after the death of the victim, murder charges would be added to the FIR.

On Monday, the victim girl was heading home when the three accused cornered her and committed gang rape. The girl was initially rushed to the Civil Hospital, Machhiwara, from where she was referred to the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, where she succumbed during treatment.

She wanted to own modern boutique, says brother

The deceased, Class VIII passout, wanted to own a modern boutique.

Inconsolable elder brother of the deceased, while talking to The Tribune, said the accused, who committed the barbaric act, were their neighbours and they had shown no mercy on his 18-year-old sister.

He said, “My sister had revealed that before committing the crime, the accused had also tied her hands and gagged her with a piece of cloth. The sexual attack on her was brutal. When she fell unconscious, the accused fled.”

He said, “My sister had passed Class VIII only but she was earning money by stitching clothes at home. Now she had started contributing money at home from her income from boutique.”

Her sister had the view that women folk must make their career and possess some professional skill to avoid dependency on anyone.