PALAMPUR GANGRAPE: 3 ARRESTED FROM GORAKHPUR

DHARAMSHALA: The Kangra police on Friday arrested three youths accused in the Palampur gangrape case, from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

The trio, identified as Nishant Kumar, Ajay Kumar and Sashi, all natives of Gadiyara village, along with two juveniles, had raped a 15-year-old girl and thrashed her male friend near a forest at Paraur near Palampur while the victims were on their way back home from Gar Mata temple on April 26.

The two juveniles, who were arrested on April 28, have been sent to correction home in Una. The police on May 1 had also arrested one Ashwani Kumar for providing financial help to the accused.

Police said the trio did menial jobs in local fairs and were not known to the victim.

‘WANTED TO FLEE TO NEPAL’

“The trio was looking for an opportunity to flee to Nepal,” said Kangra senior superintendent of police (SSP) Santosh Patial, who added that a police team was sent to Gorakhpur after their location was traced to their hideout there.

“The accused spent a night in Kapurthala (Punjab), before fleeing to Gorakhpur. The three would use strangers’ cellphone to call home or their friends,” said Patial, adding that putting cellphones of a few people on surveillance helped trace the location.

HAD RAPED A 15YROLD GIRL, THRASHED HER MALE FRIEND NEAR A FOREST AT PARAUR ON APRIL 26, 2 JUVENILES WERE HELD ON APRIL 28