Canter driver who molested gangrape victim arrested
GURGAON: In a major breakthrough, the special investigation team has arrested the canter driver who was allegedly molested the Manesar gang-rape victim, when she asked for a lift on the night of May 29. The victim alleged that the canter driver was inebriated and started molesting her as a result of which she had to jump from the truck at IMT Manesar chowk.
He was arrested from Begumpur Khatola on Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. He lived in a rented accommodation in Bus Kusla village. She later took a lift in a Tata Magic van where three youths took turns to rape her. They drove her to a vacant plot in Sector 8 where they committed the crime. They also choked her 8-month-old daughter to death before fleeing the scene.
Like the three accused in the case, the canter driver, too, hails from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh. While the three are residents of Rungsi in Bulandshahr district, the alleged molester, identified as Rajesh, resides in Hassanpur village in the same district. He was arrested from Gurgaon on Saturday.
Sandeep Khirwar, Gurgaon police commissioner, called the arrest a major breakthrough as it will help in building a watertight case against the gang-rape accused. “All truck drivers were questioned and asked for information on Rajesh. Technical and human surveillance, too, helped in his arrest,” said Khirwar.
Earlier, on Saturday, the city police produced the three accused before a local court, which extended the police remand by two days as sought by the special investigation team.
Narender Kumar, SHO, Manesar police station produced the three in court.
The SIT has seized two mobile phones from the accused and these are being scanned for evidence. Apart from that, police have seized the Tata Magic van, blood samples, clothes and have also identified the exact spot where the crime took place.
ACP Manesar Dharamvir Singh said that extension of remand will enable the SIT to grill the accused and collect evidence.
According to sources, the police has obtained CCTV footage showing the accused and the image will be circulated among locals for verification.