Police have arrested three accused for assaulting two army officers and raping their female friend in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. Efforts are on to nab the remaining three. Police official said that Anil Baror (27) and Pawan Bansunia (23) were produced before a local court which sent them to five-day police custody. According to news agency PTI, another accused Ritesh Bhabhar (25) was arrested on Thursday night.
The arrest of the accused came after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party over the incident and alleged “non-existent” law and order in states ruled by the party. Superintendent of Police (rural) Hitika Vasal told PTI that Bhabhar is accused of threatening two army officers and their two women friends with a pistol during the incident, while the other accused came with sticks.
what is the matter
Police said that a total of six accused have been identified in connection with the incident that took place in the early hours of Wednesday near popular tourist spot Jam Gate, around 30 km from Mhow military cantonment. The SP said, “Several teams are engaged in searching for the three absconding accused and a reward of Rs 10,000 has been announced for information about any of them.” The 23 and 24 year old army officers had gone for a picnic with their two female friends. Both are doing Young Officers Course in Infantry School.
Police said the accused arrived at the picnic spot at around 2 am and attacked an officer and his female friend sitting in the car. Hearing the noise, other officers and their female friends sitting on the hill rushed to the spot. Later, when the police arrived at the spot, the army officers and their female friends were brought to Mhow Civil Hospital.
What was found in the medical report
PTI quoted an official as saying that a medical examination confirmed that one of the women was raped. Based on the officer’s complaint, a case has been registered under sections 70 (gang rape), 310-2 (robbery), 308-2 (extortion) and 115-2 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Arms Act. However, the victim is yet to give her statement.
According to the report, a police officer said that all four were sent for medical examination. Two army officers have sustained injuries but they are not serious. The woman, who is suspected to have been raped, has several injuries including scratch marks on her body. However, the medical report has not clearly confirmed rape or gang rape.
Additional Police Superintendent Rupesh Dwivedi said, ‘We cannot conclude even on the basis of the medical report that the woman has been raped or gang-raped, unless she herself says so. We have imposed sections to ensure that if she records a statement regarding this, then these sections can be applied. The army officer suspects that his female friend has been raped. But the woman has refused to record her statement. We have currently imposed rape sections, but these will be applicable only when the woman gives a statement.’
