8 held for abducting, raping two dancers in UP’s Kushinagar

“All the eight accused are below 30 years. They were presented before a court in Kushinagar, which sent them to judicial custody. The statements of the two women are currently being recorded before a magistrate,” said SP (Kushinagar) Santosh Kumar Mishra, adding their medical test has been completed and its report is awaited.

According to police, on Sunday night they received information that unidentified men travelling in two SUVs arrived at a house where four young women from West Bengal were staying on rent.

“The group abducted two women at gunpoint. When residents raised an alarm, they fired shots in the air before taking away the women. The local promptly informed us and also shared the vehicle numbers. With the help of human intelligence and surveillance, we traced one of the men to a house within two hours of the incident where the women were kept,” said a police officer.

Six of the accused men — identified as Nagendra Yadav, Asan Singh, Krish Tiwari, Arthak Singh, Ajeet Singh, and Vivek Seth — were arrested from the house, which belonged to Ajeet Singh, said the officer.

Two other accused — Nisar Ansari and Aditya Sahani — were arrested on Tuesday from a village following an encounter, said police, adding both the accused received gunshots in their legs and were discharged after primary treatment. Both have criminal cases against them and carry a reward of Rs 25,000 each, said police.

“During interrogation, the men said they had assembled at Ajeet’s house to celebrate his birthday. After drinking, they decided to hire an orchestra party for a dance show. When the women declined to perform due to the late hour, the men abducted them at gunpoint,” said the officer.

Police have seized the two SUVs used in the crime.