BJP, JD(U) men among 3 held for minor’s rape

AN FIR WAS LODGED AGAINST MANISH NAYAK, DINDORI BJP OFFICE IN-CHARGE, DINESH AWADHIYA, JANATA DAL (U) DINDORI DISTRICT PRESIDENT AND PETROL PUMP OWNER AMIT SONI

BHOPAL: Three people including a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a Janata Dal (United) leader were arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl in Bhopal, police said on Thursday.

An FIR was registered against Manish Nayak, Dindori BJP office in-charge, Dinesh Awadhiya, Janata Dal (United) Dindori district president and petrol pump owner Amit Soni under Indian Penal Code sections 376 (rape), 363 (abduction), 372 (selling minor for purpose of prostitution) and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, police said. Bhopal south superintendent of police, Sai Krishna Hota, said, “On August 19, the girl, a resident of Haryana filed a complaint at Ashoka Garden police station that she met a woman in a bus. The woman brought her to Bhopal on the pretext of providing a job. Later, the woman tried to push her into the flesh trade. Three men raped her in a flat and in a hotel between August 13 and 19.”

The victim managed to escape on August 19 and narrated her ordeal to the police, after which the accused were arrested, Ashoka Garden police station incharge Alok Shrivastava said.

“During the investigation, the police identified three people with the help of CCTV footage and entry in a hotel register,” the SP said. After the allegations, the BJP has cancelled the primary membership of Nayak. BJP media incharge Lokendra Parashar said, “We can’t allow any indisciplined and criminal person to be a party member.” JD(U) leaders were mot available for a comment.