Three accused have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang-rape of a woman in front of her husband in Rajasthan's Alwar district.
Those arrested were identified as Indraraj Gurjar, Ashok and Mukesh. A day before, 14 police teams had been constituted to nab the other two accused, IG Jaipur S Segathir said.
"So far, we have arrested three. Two rape accused are absconding. Mukesh has also been arrested under IT Act as he had shot the video (of the crime) and uploaded it on social media," the IG said.
A woman was allegedly raped by five men in front of her husband in Alwar district on April 26 around 3 pm when she was travelling to Talvriksha from her village Lalwadi, accompanied by her husband on a motorcycle. The complaint was registered on April 30.
According to the complaint lodged by the victim's family, "The husband was beaten by two persons while the remaining three gang-raped her. Accused were travelling on two motorcycles." The accused reportedly shot the entire act on their cellphone cameras and threatened to post it on social media in order to silence the couple.
Initially, the couple did not tell the family members anything. But when the accused called the husband and threatened to circulate the video if he did not give them money, he narrated the incident. An FIR was registered on May 2 under relevant sections of the IPC and the SC/ST Act.
Delay due to polls
On Wednesday, a series of protests were staged in Thanagazi town demanding the arrest of all accused. In Jaipur's civil lines too, the opposition BJP staged a protest led by Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore and BJP leader Kirodi Lal Meena.
The BJP criticised the ruling Congres government for its delay in taking action, alleging that the case was deliberately hidden due to elections. Union minister and Rajasthan's election in-charge Prakash Javadekar demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
Former CM and BJP's national vice president Vasundhara Raje also lashed out at the Congress government for being unable to provide safety to women.
Two cops removed
On Tuesday night, the Rajasthan government removed Alwar SP Rajiv Pachar and put him under the Awaiting Posting Order status, citing administrative reasons. Earlier in the day, SHO of the Thanagazi police station Sardar Singh was also suspended and four policemen were shunted to police lines.
The state government has released an interim relief of Rs 4.12 lakh for the victim as per the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.