Rajkot police ‘shoot at’ man accused of raping minor, in ‘self-defence’

Addressing mediapersons around 12:30 am on Thursday, Superintendent of Police (SP) Vijay Singh Gurjar said, “While on their way back, the accused picked up a dhaariyu (sabre) and attacked the police team. He first attacked Head Constable Harmesh Bavaliya twice, injuring him on the hand and chest. He then tried to attack the other police personnel.”

SP Gurjar added, “In self defence, two police officers fired one round each at the accused, injuring him in both legs, below the knees. The police team dialled 108 and both, the accused and injured police personnel, were transported to a local hospital by ambulance, where they received primary treatment. They were subsequently referred to Rajkot Civil Hospital.”

SP Gurjar added, “The police used limited force that was required only to stop the accused. A second FIR will be filed against him for the attack on the police team.”

According to the Rajkot Rural police, the 30-year-old man admitted to the crime that happened on December 4.

In a statement, Vijay Singh Gurjar, Superintendent of Police, Rajkot Rural, said that when the accused failed in his attempt to rape the child, he “inserted a metal rod”, causing internal bleeding and trauma to the girl.

“The child was admitted to a hospital in Rajkot city and the police began searching for the perpetrator. The police checked CCTV footage from nearby villages and drew up a list of around 100 suspects,” said Gurjar.

“From there, we zeroed in on 10 possible suspects. We showed the photographs of these 10 persons to the girl with the help of child counsellors. She identified one of the men as the perpetrator and an interrogation was done, during which he admitted to the crime,”Gurjar added.

The police said the accused is a sharecropper who hails from Madhya Pradesh, is married and has three children. Further investigation is underway, police said.