Hindustan Times (Patiala)

Minor’s gangrape: Protesters block SBS NagarPhill­aur road

DEMAND ARREST Two of the four accused have been arrested, main accused is still on the run

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com n

Two of the accused are in police net. The remaining two will be arrested by next Monday. BALKAR SINGH, Jalandhar superinten­dent of police

Members of Agitation Halka Phillaur on Monday blocked the SBS Nagar-Phillaur road to demand the arrest of two accused persons in the gangrape case pertaining to a 13-year-old girl.

A girl from a village in Phillaur was gang-raped by four men of Ganna village on October 4.

The accused, identified as Karan, 18, Bunty, 20, Vicky, 21, and Golu, were booked under Section 376 D (gang rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 3 and 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at Phillaur police station.

Muthada Kalan’s former sarpanch Kanti Mohan, who has been leading the protest, said they have been holding day and night protests from October 24 but the police have only been able to arrest two men, while the other two, including the main culprit, are absconding.

DSP ACCUSED OF DISCRIMINA­TION

Mohan also alleged discrimina­tion by the Phillaur deputy superinten­dent of police (DSP) Amrik Singh Chahal. He said, the DSP mentally harassed the complainan­ts as the case belonged to scheduled caste and he didn’t show interest in taking action.

Following the news of roadblock, Jalandhar superinten­dent of police (SP) Balkar Singh went to the spot and assured the protesters that the remaining two accused will be arrested by next Monday.

“We have arrested two of the accused, while the remaining two will be arrested within a week,” superinten­dent of police Balkar Singh said.

On asking about the harassment by the DSP, superinten­dent of police Balkar Singh said he has asked the protesters to give a written applicatio­n and the police will verify the complaint against the deputy superinten­dent of police.

After the assurance by superinten­dent of police Balkar Singh, protesters lifted the roadblock and said they will resume their protest if the police failed to arrest the accused in the given time.

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? Members of Agitation Halka Phillaur protesting in Jalandhar on Monday.
HT PHOTO Members of Agitation Halka Phillaur protesting in Jalandhar on Monday.

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