Minor raped with ‘iron rod’: Aim to file chargesheet against accused within 2 weeks, say Gujarat Police

Till date, a total of three FIRs have been filed in this case in the same police station within six days. One pertaining to the rape, the second regarding the shootout and the third against a local politician for allegedly revealing the identity and residence of the victim on social media.

The crime
This case dates back to December 4, when the accused, a farm labourer, after finding the child alone in a field, took her behind a water tank and attempted to rape her. “When the accused failed in his attempt to rape her , he inserted a metal rod, causing internal bleeding and trauma to the girl,” Rajkot Rural Superintendent of Police Vijay Singh Gurjar said.

The police compiled a list of 100 suspects and whittled it down to 10 suspects.

When their photos were shown to the minor survivor, she identified the accused, who later admitted to the crime,
police claimed.

The FIR was registered on December 8 after the police received results of the medical examination of the child. The accused was arrested on December 9 and a local court granted the police five-day remand on December 10.

Accused ‘shot in legs’
On the day they received remand, the police took the accused to the scene of the crime for panchnama reconstruction and recovery of the iron rod that had been used in committing the offence. While they were returning, the accused allegedly picked up a dhaariyu (scythe) and attacked the police team, leading to him being “shot twice, once each in both legs.” A second FIR was filed against him, this time for attempted murder of a head constable, on the basis of a complaint by a sub-inspector of the Local Crime Branch (LCB).

The operative part of the FIR read, “When the panchnama and seizure was completed at 9 pm and the accused was being taken to be seated in the vehicle, he suddenly picked up a metal-handled scythe and attacked a police, injuring him on the hand and chest and shouted “Chala jaav… Maar dunga (Go away… I’ll kill you).”

The FIR, filed at 11:35 pm on December 10, said that the accused then swung the scythe again, at which point two policemen drew their service weapons and fired one round each at the accused, hitting him in both legs below the knees. They then called for an ambulance. On Monday (December 15), SP Gurjar confirmed that the head constable was discharged from hospital.