16 men have been arrested by Dumka police, for their alleged involvement in the gang rape of a 19-year-old tribal girl on 6 September. All of the arrested men are aged between 18-24 years.
“At least eight of the arrested youths had raped the girl while others supported them in the heinous crime,” police said.
The incident took place last Wednesday between 8-9 pm when the girl, travelling on a motorcycle along with her boyfriend, was intercepted by a group of five-six young men at Digghi locality. The accused threatened the victim and her friend with daggers and dragged the girl to a nearby secluded place. They called some of their friends and all raped the girl one-by-one and assaulted her. One of them also made a video of the entire incident.
“16 accused have been arrested on the basis of evidence against them. We have collected several articles from the spot including cloths, hair pin, dagger and others and sent them to forensic science laboratory for further examination. A special probe team has been constituted to expedite the investigation, which is still on”, Dumka superintendent of police, Mayur Patel Kanhiya Lal, said.
Those arrested have been identified as Daniel Kisku, 20, Saddam Ansari, 24, Anil Rana, 23, Kurban Ansari, 19, Suraj Soren, 21, Shahbaz Ansari, 20, Jiya-ul-Ansari, 19, Imran Ansari, 19, Shailendra Marandi, 20, Jai Prakash Hembrom, 20, Suman Soren, 19, Alvinush Hansda, 19, Marshal Murmu, Subhash Hansda, John Murmu and Habil Tudu. The police are verifying the age of the last four youths but asserted that they are not minors.
The girl had informed the police that she had heard names of Daniel, Anil, Suraj, Saddam, Shahbaj, Kurban, Imran and Jaiya-ul while they were outraging her modesty. She added that she could not recall the other names. She fell unconscious after resisting for a while, the girl told the police.
After regaining consciousness, the girl and her friend somehow managed to reach the police station, she said.
