3 held for minor's kidnap, rape

RAICHUR: The Raichur police have arrested three persons on charges of abducting and sexually assaulting a minor girl from the Lambani community in February.
Three others are still at large. The girl and her parents were waiting at the Raichur railway station for a Mumbaibound train when six persons emerged out of nowhere and kidnapped her at gunpoint, said Akhila Bharata Banjara Seva Sangha President N.Shivanna Pawar and General Secretary Harishchandra B. Rathod.
The group of six drove her to the New Railway House and allegedly raped her. They then warned her parents against complaining to the police about the incident.
After dilly-dallying for a while, the girl''s parents approached the community people, who, in turn, helped them register a case with the railway police.
The arrested have been identified as Gate Lakshman, Petrol Pump Ramu and Chennakeshava. The Banjara Sangha officebearers have urged the government to allot a house and provide other reliefs to the victim''s family.
They said all the six accused be booked under the POTA. Office-bearers Govind Raj T. Nayak, Panduranga T. Nayak were present.