Soldier booked for kidnap, bid to rape Jammu student

JAMMU : A sepoy of the 6 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regiment was on Saturday booked for kidnapping and attempting to rape an MSC student of the Central University of Jammu.

Police said sepoy Rajan Khadyal, who is posted in Jabalpur and a native of Marheen village in Hiranagar area of Kathua district, is absconding.

Acting on the complaint of the student, Vijaypur station house officer Rakesh Bamba said a case was registered under Sections 323 (causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 366 (kidnapping), 376/511 (attempt to rape) and 427 (causing damage) of the Ranbir Penal Code.

The complainant said that she was kidnapped when she was on the way to a relative’s house in Samba on Friday. “I was going from the university to collect a project. He stopped his car, slapped me and forced me into the vehicle before attempting rape.”

The victim, who is hospitalised in Kathua district hospital, said the accused removed the SIM card from her mobile phone.

“Then he cut my wrists with a blade and drove the vehicle to Kootah Morh where he again assaulted me. I tried to escape but in vain. He took me to a medical shop in Kathua for first aid but the chemist refused, saying the case involved the police. Somehow, I escaped from there and managed to reach my brother’s shop at Barri Brahmana,” she said. She had also complained to her father earlier about the sepoy stalking her.

“The accused is a habitual offender and has harassed other girls too,” she said. When contacted, defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand said, “We don’t have details of the incident but we are looking into it.”