Mhow rape: All six accused held; Army probes two officers who were attacked

DIG Nimish Agrawal said the “previous criminal records of all the accused are being looked into” as the police suspect the group may have “planned such incidents in the past as well”. “It’s an isolated stretch and many people may have encountered similar incidents and not reported them. The accused persons are being questioned on these lines,” Agrawal said.

On the victim’s refusal to record her statement, Agrawal said, “We are in touch with them (victims). Whatever statements are left to be recorded we will do so in the coming days.”

The six accused attacked the two Army officers and raped one of their two women friends at a tourist spot some 30 km from the Mhow military cantonment in the early hours of September 11, said the police.

“A departmental inquiry has been ordered against the two trainee (Army) officers. It is in progress and is being headed by a senior officer,” an Army officer told PTI over phone from Mhow.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Hitika Vasal said the two Army officers and their two women friends had been at the spot since 11 pm on Tuesday. “The four of them were listening to loud music. On hearing the sound in the deserted area late in the night, the six accused reached the spot and committed the crime,” she said.

The MP Congress on Friday alleged that some BJP workers and their relatives were behind the incident in Mhow. The ruling BJP, however, rubbished the allegation and accused the Opposition of creating a “false perception” on the issue.

MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari said, “Behind the Mhow incident, the names of BJP workers, their relatives and also kin of other party leaders have cropped up… It shows that there is a rule of mafia and rapists, and others are indulging in such acts without any fear of government.” State BJP chief V D Sharma said, “Congress is trying to build a false perception on the issue. If any predator is found involved in such crimes, the government will not spare them.”