Jhansi, October 13
Eight students from a government polytechnic institute here have been arrested after their college classmate, a minor girl, was allegedly blackmailed and raped inside the hostel, and the district administration said it can invoke the strict National Security Law against the accused.
Jhansi Chief Police Superintendent Dinesh Kumar P said the girl was allegedly raped by one of the defendants, while others were left outside even as an exam was being conducted on campus and teachers were busy taking it.
“Since the place of the crime, the shelter, was a bit far from the university building, nobody noticed,” said the SSP, adding that the girl filed a complaint against them.
All of the defendants were arrested Monday evening and have been registered under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO), the SSP said.
He also said that it is a matter of finding out how the students got to the shelter even though it is closed.
He said that a case has been registered and that it will be taken to a fast track court so that justice is served expeditiously and the defendants receive harsh punishment.
“During the investigation it was found that all the accused are students of the government’s polytechnic school. They also extorted 3,000 rupees from the girl by blackmailing her, “said the SSP.
District Magistrate A Vamsi said Tuesday that warrants have been issued to justify everyone from the university.
“The district administration is considering invoking the strict National Security Law. At the time of the incident, an examination was being carried out at the Government Polytechnic, and despite this, the defendant was immediately pleased. Therefore, a strong message must reach society, “he said.
According to the NSA, a person can be held in pretrial detention without charge for up to 12 months if authorities are convinced that the person is a threat to national security or public order.
A Special Investigation Team has been formed at the local level to help policemen from the Sipri Bazar police station, under whose jurisdiction the crime scene is located, to investigate the case, said SSP Dinesh Kumar P.
A joint team of the Circle (city) officer and the city magistrate are investigating the matter.
He said the girl was offered counseling so that she or her parents would not face any mental pressure. PTI
