More arrest after anger boils over India rape case

NEW DELHI: Police have made another arrest after the alleged rape of a teenager by a ruling party politician sparked protests across the country, federal investigators said yesterday.

The case, along with the rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl, has brought Indians onto the streets for mass demonstrations not seen since the rape and murder of a Delhi student in 2012.

The outrage has put pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a lawmaker from Uttar Pradesh state which is ruled by the Hindu nationalist BJP, for allegedly raping the 17-year-old last year.

Police only brought a case against the powerful politician last week after the young victim attempted to burn herself alive outside the state leader’s residence. The next day, her father, who had been in police custody, died from injuries he sustained in an alleged beating.

“We arrested the second person, a woman named Shashi Singh, in our ongoing investigations of the case on Saturday,” said R.K. Gaur, a CBI spokesman.

Sengar appeared in court the same day and was ordered detained for seven days.

The girl’s family — who fought unsuccessfully for nearly a year to get the police to register their case — said Shashi had taken their daughter to the state legislator on the pretext of a job.

She then allegedly stood guard at the door while Sengar raped the girl, the family’s initial complaint to police stated.