MC staffer was gangraped in confinement, 3 arrested

Ludhiana: Two days after a woman sanitation worker of the Ludhiana municipal corporation was rescued by the authorities from an acquaintance’s house where she was locked for almost two-and-a-half years, police registered a case of gangrape in the matter and arrested three persons on Thursday.
The arrested accused included her neighbour, his wife, an accomplice. Another accused — a numbardar — is absconding, police said.
The woman, in her complaint, had told cops that following the death of her mother in 2013, she got a job in the corporation on compassionate grounds and she lived in the apartment where the said accused also lived. She alleged that the accused used to harass her and would do indecent acts with her.
She further alleged that one off the accused used to take her to the corporation office and get her signature and keep her salary. She claimed that in February 2023, the accused had cut her hair and for around two years, they were giving her drugs and sexually abusing her.
The complainant said one of the accused had taken a loan in her name and the accused used to keep her locked in the flat.
The woman is currently admitted to the civil hospital.
Police have registered a case against the accused under Sections 376 D (gangrape), 342 (wrongful confinement), 328 (Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code.
Sub-inspector Harmesh Singh said the three accused were arrested on Thursday and a manhunt has been launched to nab the other accused in the case. He said more persons, including relative of the complainant, might be involved in the crime.
The police officer said they have also sought records from the MC into the matter.