SIT to probe Morni gang rape

SIT to probe Morni gang rape

Panchkula : Facing criticism for not entertaining a complaint of a gang rape victim, the Panchkula police on Friday formed a special investigation team (SIT) under ACP Anshu Singla to look into the matter. The 21-year-old victim, who is married and was promised a job at a farmhouse, was allegedly raped by around 40 people, including “two cops”, at a hotel in Morni in Panchkula district. A day after an FIR was lodged by the Chandigarh Police, the case was transferred to the Panchkula police on Friday.Panchkula DCP Rajender Kumar Meena issued suspension orders of ASI Mange Ram, area security agent Pradeep Kumar and women police station ASI Saraswati, whom the victim had approached.The Health Department has already provided a woman doctor and a counsellor to the victim, he said.
Guest house sealed
The district administration and the police on Friday sealed Lovely Guest House in Morni where the alleged gang rape took place. Besides, the police have increased vigil in the Morni area. DCP Rajendar Kumar Meena said they would now start a drive to seal illegal guest houses running in Morni. He said check-posts were being set up and a team of police officials had been assigned to supervise the area in Morni from 1 pm to 11 pm on a daily basis.
Police recover DVR
A team of the Panchkula police, led by ACP Anshu Singla, visited Lovely Guest House in Morni and recovered the digital video recorder (DVR) of CCTV cameras installed at the guest house. The police are also checking the CCTV footage of hotels and guest houses located nearby to get crucial evidence in the gang rape case, which has put them in a spot.
Was offered sedatives, says victim
Narrating her ordeal, the victim told the media that she was offered sedatives in food after which the accused raped her. She said the accused repeatedly raped her till July 18. “Everyday, around 10 people, whom I didn’t know, used to rape me,” she said.
Lost no time in registering FIR: UT police
The UT police said an FIR was registered under Sections 376-D (where a woman is raped by one or more persons constituting a group or acting in furtherance of a common intention) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC within a few hours after the victim approached them and two accused were nabbed. The victim alleged that on July 18, two persons raped her claiming that they were cops.
Plan to upgrade Morni police post
The Police Department is planning to upgrade the Morni police post into a police station. A senior police official said in case it was upgraded to a police station, they would get more manpower and it would be easy to patrol the only hill station of the state.

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