Akali Dal chief and others booked for raping a woman for 8 months

In a significant improvement, the Punjab police have lodged a case in opposition to 7 folks, together with a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief, for holding a 22-year-old lady in captivity and raping her for 8 months. As per studies, 3 police officers have additionally been suspended for threatening and intimidating the sufferer.
The sufferer’s brother knowledgeable that on June 24 final yr, a feminine tenant staying of their home took his sister to the home of an Akali Dal chief’s brother. At that point, round 20-25 folks had been current on the home, together with the SAD chief, a godman, and some ladies. They had allegedly provided the sufferer a spiked drink, publish which she misplaced consciousness. On the identical day, she was gang-raped by the accused SAD chief, the godman, and a number of other others.
The sufferer’s brother additional mentioned that his sister was saved in Pandhar village in Barnala for 17 days, following which she was taken to Sangrur for 3 days. She was then taken to Bhatinda and forcefully married off in alternate for ₹70000. When she was saved in captivity, the sufferer overheard a dialog by the accused whereby they had been planning to promote her off for ₹3 lacs. The 22-year-old lady one way or the other managed to flee and contacted her mom. When her brother lastly discovered her, she was in an intoxicated situation.
Victim’s household allege police intimidation
The members of the family then took her to a authorities hospital the place she underwent a medical examination. The sufferer has additionally given her assertion earlier than the Magistrate. Fearing threats to their life, the household has demanded safety from the district administration. They alleged that the Station House Officer (SHO) at Barnala police station demanded cash from them. The members of the family then requested to satisfy the Superintendent of Police however it was turned down. Meanwhile, the case was handed over to a different SHO. They alleged that three police officers intimidated the sufferer to provide an announcement in favour of the accused.
Three police officers suspended, police investigation resumes
They have demanded stringent motion in opposition to the 7 accused and the three police officers. DSP (Barnala) Lakhbir Singh Tiwana knowledgeable {that a} First Information Report (No. 340) was registered on July 10 final yr. It was primarily based on the grievance by the sufferer’s mom, who mentioned that the sufferer was lured by her tenant. Tiwana emphasised that the accused lady was arrested and despatched to jail. However, the sufferer, in her assertion earlier than the District Justice of the Peace, claimed that she wasn’t lured by anybody and had received married legally on her personal accord. As such, the police probe got here to a halt within the case.
On February 23 (Tuesday), the police obtained data that the sufferer was admitted on the Barnala authorities hospital. The Magistrate was referred to as in and the sufferer’s assertion was recorded. She has named a number of folks for raping her and accused three police officers of intimidating her. The SP (Barnala) ordered the fast suspension of the three police officers and directed the resumption of the police investigation. A case was thus registered in opposition to 7 folks, who hail from totally different areas together with Barnala, Bathinda, Panipat, and Ludhiana.