Hyderabad: Telangana police on Sunday arrested one more accused, making it a total of four arrests in connection with the alleged gang rape of a teenage girl in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills on May 28.
Out of the four, three are juveniles and the fourth accused is a major, DCP West Zone Joel Davis confirmed speaking to Siasat.com. “The fifth accused Umer Khan is yet to be arrested,” he said.
The three juveniles (Child in Conflict with law or CCL) will be produced before the Juvenile Court for their safe custody, the DCP informed.
One accused, who was arrested on Friday, has been identified as Saduddin Malik. The police last night also seized the Innova car allegedly in connection to the rape case.
The 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped when she was returning home after a party in the Jubilee Hills area of Hyderabad on May 28. Following the incident, the minor girl’s father submitted a complaint to the police regarding the incident.
After the victim’s father filed a complaint, a police case was registered against five accused involved in the case under sections 354 and 323 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 9 read with 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) Joel Davis, police have recovered the CCTV footage and identified five culprits with the help of footage and the victim’s statement.
The security footage which is viral on social media purportedly showed the girl standing with the suspected attackers outside the pub where she had met them. The boys had offered to drop her home. Instead, she was assaulted inside a parked car in the city. Her attackers took turns raping her while the others stood guard outside the car.
Explain delay in filing FIR in gang rape case: NCPCR to Hyderabad police
The apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has sought an explanation from the Hyderabad police over the delay in the registration of an FIR in connection with the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in the city.
The NCPCR has also sought the registration of an FIR against a city pub for allowing entry to minors.
“The Commission has observed that since the incident allegedly/reportedly took place on 28.05.2022 (Saturday), the FIR in the said incident has been lodged on 31.05.2022, i.e. after three days of the incident. The delay in registering the FIR in the matter is a matter of concern. Reasons thereof may be furnished and action against the concerned errant official should also be taken and appraised to the Commission,” the NCPCR said in a letter to the Hyderabad police on Friday.
The NCPCR further said that a pub allowing entry to minors is also a matter of serious concern.
“Therefore, the Commission is of the view that an FIR should also be lodged against the said pub authorities and action taken thereof be informed,” it said.
It also asked the police to furnish a detailed case report within seven days from the date of receipt of this letter including age proof of minor victims, true and legible copy of FIR, copy of statements of the victim, copy of charge sheet, present status of investigation and action taken against the accused.
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