Gang rape of tribal minor: Accused held

Varanasi: Police arrested all three accused in the gang-rape of a 17-year-old tribal girl after an encounter in Sonbhadra district late Saturday night. One of the accused was shot in the leg during the exchange of fire with the police.Sharing details of the operation, Circle Officer (Obra) Amit Kumar said that police teams, who were engaged to nab the gang-rape accused, received information that the trio—Pappu alias Bindu Yadav of Kanhara, Arjun Dom of Obra Bhalua Tola slum, and Karan Dom of Sector-10, Lanka Colony—was hiding in Billi Markundi mining area.When Obra police team cordoned off the area and asked the accused to surrender, Karan allegedly opened fire at the police team, and all three attempted to flee. Police retaliated in self-defence, during which Karan sustained a bullet injury in his leg and was apprehended. His two accomplices were also arrested after police foiled their escape attempt. Police recovered a country-made pistol, live cartridges, a mobile phone and Rs 380 in cash from the accused. The injured accused was rushed to hospital for treatment.The CO said that on Dec 30, Pappu, a mason by profession, lured the minor girl, who worked with him, to a hill. There, he and his two accomplices allegedly raped her. The girl later narrated the ordeal to her mother. Based on the complaint of the girl's mother, an FIR was lodged at Obra police station on Jan 2. Considering the gravity of the case, two special police teams were formed, leading to the late-night operation and arrests.