Murthal gang-rape: Witnesses speaking to media should give info to police, says Khattar

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had taken suo moto cognizance of a report of mass gang rape of women in Murthal near Sonepat on February 22.

Panchkula: In the wake of eyewitness evolving for the first time today in the case of mass gang-rape of women on National Highway No1 during the Jat reservation agitation, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday urged them to disclose their accounts in-front of police instead of the media.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Khattar said, "Eyewitnesses speaking to media should give information to Police. It is their duty."

Khattar, whose government faced wrath for alleged failure in containing arson and violence during Jat agitation, said a committee has been formed for receiving information about alleged rape or sexual assault with women.

"A special team has been formed and their mobile numbers have been given. If any complaint comes or any eyewitness provides any information, immediate action will be taken," he further said.

The development comes hours after some eyewitnesses disclosed to the media today that women were assaulted by a group of youngsters who came on motorcycles and dragged them into the fields.

"I saw some of the protestors ripping off the clothes of the women and taking them in the fields. I saw it myself with my own eyes that they tore the clothes of the women. They were moving on two wheelers and they were between the age of 20 to 26 years of age," said the eye witness, as per ANI.

When asked if he could identify the culprits, he said, "I can identify them if they are brought forward."

The eye witness further said that at around 2 p.m, while he was struck in the road jam, the miscreants set his truck and other vehicles on fire.

"The women walking on road were advised by protestors to take the village road to escape attack and then they were robbed and raped in the fields," he added.

The Haryana Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police Rajshri Singh who is heading committee to probe the rape incidents said that if eyewitness comes to them they will record the statement.

Haryana Police yesterday had set up a committee consisting of three women police officers, including a DIG, for receiving any complaint of rape of women in Murthal near Sonepat during the Jat agitation.

The women police officers are DIG Rajshree Singh, DSP Bharti Dabas and DSP Surinder Kaur.

Haryana DGP YP Singal yesterday, however, said police had not received any complaint regarding sexual assault yet but would act swiftly as and when any case was reported.

(With Agency inputs)