No headway in Bulandshahr gang-rape case, locals cry foul over arrests

Bulandshahr: There has been no headway in the investigation into the gang-rape and robbery committed on NH-91 on Friday night despite Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announcing that the case would be cracked within 24 hours.

Questions have been raised by locals as to whether those arrested were really involved in the crime in which a woman and her teenaged daughter were gang-raped, and their belongings robbed.

Bulandshahr MP Bhola Singh said the police arrested three persons in haste to fulfil the assurance of the chief minister. Innocent people are being harassed by the police, he alleged, adding that the real culprits are being spared under political pressure.

Earlier, the police arrested three suspects who were presented before the local court which sent them to 14 days judicial custody in Bulandshahr jail.

The suspects have been identified as Shawed, a resident of Dehpa Hapur; Rahees, a resident of Sutari Bulandshahr, and Jabar Singh, a resident of Rabupura in Gautam Budh Nagar.

"We are looking for other culprits whose role in the crime has been revealed during the investigation," DIG of Uttar Pradesh Police Laxmi Singh said.

Meanwhile, the victims told IANS that the police was apathetic towards their plight and did not provide any medical treatment. Neither were there any counsellors to deal with their trauma, the victims said. It was only when the crime was reported in the media that the police swung into action, they added.