Woman raped at gunpoint in front of children in Jind

While three persons — Sandeep,Suraj Ilyas and an unidentified man — were booked,Suraj and Sandeep’s father Azad have been arrested. Sandeep and the unidentified accused are absconding.

The incident comes in the wake of a gangrape that had rocked Hisar recently. A 16-year-old Dalit girl was gangraped and the accused circulated the MMS of the rape. Following this,the victim’s father had committed suicide.

According to the police,Wednesday’s incident took place at Badoli village in Pillukhera. The victim,a housewife,is in her mid-thirties and was serving lunch to her children when accused forcibly entered her house and raped her. The victim’s husband,who is a mason,was not home.

While speaking to mediapersons,the victim said: “Three persons came to my house and asked for my husband. I told them he was not at home. They asked me to give them his mobile phone number,which I refused and said I did not have it. One of them pushed me and they entered my house. My children were also home at that time. One of them was carrying a pistol and said that if I raised my voice,they would kill my daughter. The three raped me one after another and threatened me with dire consequences before they left.”

“I lodged a complaint with the police on September 21,but till today,the police kept on telling me that the accused were not traceable. Today,when I threatened to commit suicide and informed the media,the police claimed to have arrested two persons,” she added.

Jind SP Saurabh Singh,however,said,“The moment a complaint was lodged,we took action. Two persons have been arrested,while two more are absconding. Police teams are conducting raids at various places in and around Jind and we will arrest them soon.”

“The victim’s children had returned from school and witnessed the gory crime. The three accused raped the woman one after another. Initial investigations revealed that the victim’s husband knew the accused and they were nursing a grudge against him owing to some dispute. However,this is yet to be verified,” said a police officer.

He added: “The prime accused,Sandeep,has a criminal record and is facing a few cases. Sandeep’s father was arrested on charges of harbouring his son. Those arrested are being interrogated and will be produced in the court tomorrow. Though the victim’s statement,on which the FIR was registered,does not mention that the accused raped her at gunpoint,she is now saying so before the media. We will verify these allegations as well.”

In a late evening development,the landlord of the house where the victim was living,asked the family to immediately vacate the premises by 10 am on Thursday,failing which,he will throw their belongings out on the road. “I have informed the police,but they said it between me and my landlord and they cannot interfere,” the victim alleged.