Three remanded in 7-day custody

It is quite possible that more such incidents have occurred in the area, which have gone unreported as the victims chose to remain mum for fear of social stigma. RANBIR SINGH KHATRA, DIG

LUDHIANA: The court of judicial magistrate (first class) Ankit Airi remanded three accused in Ludhiana gang-rape case to seven-day police custody on Wednesday. The third accused, arrested on Wednesday, has been identified as Surmu of Kathua. The two others are Sadiq Ali, 24, a Gujjar, of Rehpa village in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (Nawanshahr), and Jagroop Singh of Jaspal Bangar village in Ludhiana. They were arrested on Tuesday. Deputy inspector general Ranbir Singh Khatra added that there were six accused in the case and not ten.

The victim and her male friend were kidnapped on Saturday night by six men near Issewal Bridge and held hostage till morning. She was gang-raped at a vacant plot.

“There are numerous gangs operating in the area where the student and her male friends were waylaid. It is quite likely that more such incidents have occurred in the area near Issewal village. These would have gone unreported,” said advocate Parupkar Singh Ghuman, who appeared as a private counsel on behalf of the complainant in court.

DIG Khatra added that the arrest of the accused was just the tip of the iceberg and there was a lot more to investigate. “This is not the lone case of its kind. It is quite possible that more such incidents have occurred in the area, which have gone unreported as the victims chose to remain mum for fear of social stigma,” said the DIG.

During the hearing, the judge asked the accused, “Don’t you have any shame.”

LUDHIANA YAD PRESIDENT HURLS SHOES AT ACCUSED

When the police was taking the accused back from court, Youth Akali Dal district president, Meetpal Singh Dugri, along with his supporters hurled shoes at the accused and raised slogans. “Handover these people to us. We will punish them,” he added.

NCW TEAM VISITS CITY; MEETS VICTIM

A team from the National Commission for Women visited the city and met the rape victim on Wednesday. The team met police and district administration officials and recorded statement of the victim’s friend, who was with her when the incident happened

NCW chairman Rekha Sharma said, “The commission will monitor the case. The case should be decided in a fast track court. A women desk must be set up in all police stations.”