Teams of Haryana Police Monday continued to carry out raids to nab two prime accused, including an Armyman, in the gang rape of a young woman from Rewari even as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the state government has assured strongest possible action against the culprits.
Opposition parties trained guns on the Manohar Lal Khattar government over the incident claiming the law and order situation had deteriorated in Haryana.
The three men arrested, including Nishu who according to police was one of the three main accused, were meanwhile produced before a court in Kanina. They were remanded to police custody for five days by the court.
Rahul Sharma, who assumed charge as new district police chief of Rewari after Rajesh Duggal was moved out as SP, said arresting the absconding accused was a priority.
"However, it (the case) doesn't end with the arrest of the accused, but it ends with their conviction. So, securing evidence and ensuring they get convicted, through a fast track court, would be the next step," he said.
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Raids continued at many places to nab the two absconding prime accused. Haryana Police's Special Task Force, a unit specialising in tackling organised crime, was also roped in to nab the absconders, police said. Police officials said Armyman Pankaj and another person Manish were two prime accused still on the run.
Three men including one of the prime accused, Nishu, who were arrested by Haryana police SIT on Sunday were produced before a court in Kanina town. The police sought a seven day remand for Nishu, Deendayal and Sanjeev.
They said they needed to make recoveries from Nishu and wanted him to identify the hideouts of his associates. They police also submitted that they needed to arrest the two prime accused, who are on the run, for which they need to interrogate those arrested.
Counsel for Sanjeev, a medical practitioner arrested in the case, submitted before the court that his client was not involved in the commission of the crime or the conspiracy. Sanjeev had allegedly examined the victim after the crime but not informed the authorities, police had claimed Sunday.
Deendayal, on whose property the gang rape took place, through his counsel, submitted he was not present at the spot where the crime took place. He denied handing over the keys to the room where the crime occurred to the prime accused.
The court remanded the three to five days in police custody.
Meanwhile, the Rewari District Bar Association demanded exemplary punishment to those involved in the gang rape. The association's president, Ravinder Yadav said they were contemplating not taking up the case of the three prime accused.
A 'Mahapanchayat' of 25 villages was held in Kosli town in connection with the gang rape incident, in which it was decided that no practicing lawyer will assist any of the prime accused, locals said.
In Jammu, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters that he had spoken to
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar about the case.
"I have spoken to the Haryana chief minister who has assured that strongest possible action will be taken against the guilty," the Union home minister said.
Opposition parties stepped up attack on the Khattar government, alleging the incident was not an isolated one and law and order situation in the state had completely broken down. Congress on Monday demanded the imposition of President's rule in the state.
"We demand that President's rule should be imposed in the state," senior Congress leader and MLA, Randeep Singh Surjewala said.
"What is the Haryana government doing? It seems there is no rule of law and criminals are roaming freely.. It is a matter of concern that a small state like Haryana is ahead in the country in gang rape cases," he said.
Meanwhile, doctors at civil hospital, Rewari, said the victim's condition was stable.
"She has been taking food. Her condition is stable and her health is showing improvement," a senior doctor said.
The 19-year-old woman, a school topper, hailing from Rewari was abducted from a bus stop in Kanina town in Mahendragarh district on Wednesday when on way to a coaching class. She was allegedly drugged and gang-raped at a room adjoining a tubewell in an agricultural field, police said.
Police said the arrested prime accused Nishu was booked under various provisions of the IPC including 376 D (gang rape), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence) and 365 (Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person).
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