Cops make no headway in riots' rape cases as locals protest

Police faced resistance from locals when they reached Phugana village here to paste notices against 21 gang-rape accused who were at large, forcing them to return without making any headway in five such cases.
According to police, the team of officials had gone to paste notices against 21 accused, who were absconding to avoid arrest in connection with five gang-rape cases that had taken place during Muzaffarnagar riots last year, under Section 82 of CRPC (proclamation for person absconding).
The villagers staged a protest when the police team reached Phugana village, following which the latter was forced to return back, sources said.

On Wednesday, a village Khap Panchayat at Phugana had decided it would not allow police to arrest those allegedly involved in five incidents of gang-rape and that a meeting of all Khap council heads will be convened on February 9 to chalk out future course of action.
So far, police have arrested one accused out of 22 identified by the Special Investigation Team probing five gang-rape cases that occurred during the riots.