Gulf News

Yet another gang-rape: Former CBSE topper targeted in Haryana

19-year-old victim says all the guilty men were from her village

- BY KARUNA MADAN Correspond­ent

In a shocking incident, a 19-year-old college student who was rewarded by the president after she topped Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examinatio­n, has been allegedly gang-raped by a group of men in Haryana.

In her complaint, the teenager alleged that she was on her way to a coaching centre near her village at Kanina in Mahenderga­rh district, when three men dragged her into their car and took her to a nearby field, where they raped her.

A few other men who were already waiting in the field joined in, taking turns to rape her. Later, they left her near a bus stop in an unconsciou­s state. Her parents rushed to the spot and brought her home.

The victim, a second-year student at a local college, told the police that all the men came from her village.

Last year, the same woman was felicitate­d during the annual Republic Day parade after she topped the board exams in Panchkula region.

Senior police officer A.S. Chawla told Gulf News that a medical examinatio­n of the woman had been conducted.

“The medical examinatio­n has been done and a case of gang-rape registered. We are now looking for the accused persons, all residents of Naya Gaon village, to arrest them,” Chawla said.

“My daughter was rewarded by the government after she topped the CBSE Board exams. I want justice for her. The police have taken no action yet,” the woman’s mother (identity undisclose­d) told the media.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar condemned the incident and said the guilty will be punished. “The law will take its own course. The guilty will soon be behind bars,” he said.

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda lamented the “worsening law and order situation” in the state. “The Manohar Lal Khattar government is completely ineffectiv­e. This is not the only incident. The Bharatiya Janata Party government has destroyed law and order in the state,” Hooda said. Congress spokespers­on Priyanka Chaturvedi also criticised the state government for being unable to prevent crimes against women.

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