Fourth accused arrested in Sambhal gang rape-murder case, one still absconding

Another person accused of burning a woman alive after allegedly raping her in Sambhal district's Rajpura area has been arrested, the police said today.

The woman was allegedly burnt alive inside the premises of a temple after she was raped by five people in her house on Saturday.

This is the fourth arrest made in the case so far.

"The fourth accused in the case has been arrested. One accused is still absconding and will be arrested soon," Superintendent of Police (SP) Yamuna Prasad said.

He added that he had visited the spot and the case will be worked out soon.

Earlier, Circle Officer of Gunnaur, Aqil Ahmad, had said the accused were relatives of the victim, who was in her 30s.

According to a complaint lodged by the victim's husband, the incident took place on Saturday around 2.30 am when the woman was in her house with her daughter. Five people barged into the house and raped her, police officials said.

In his complaint, the victim's husband alleged that after she was gang raped, his wife called her cousin to inform about the incident but by the time the police could be contacted, the accused returned and dragged her to a hut and burnt her alive.

The hut inside the premises of a temple, where the woman was burnt alive, was used to perform 'yagna and havan'.

The post-mortem of the victim could not confirm whether she was raped.

"Whether she was raped or gang-raped could not be ascertained in the post-mortem. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Moradabad, has been asked to ascertain it and the required samples will be sent to them," erstwhile Sambhal SP R M Bhardwaj had said.

He was suspended on Monday after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the case.

The police have not been able to establish the motive behind the crime.

Earlier, ADG (Bareilly zone) Prem Prakash had said, "During initial probe, the accused have denied their involvement in the case. It might be a case of some dispute but nothing can be said at this moment. The probe is on..."