Robbers murder couple, gang-rape kin

GURGAON: A couple was beaten to death and two women, including a minor, were gang-raped by robbers in Dhingeri village of Tauru in Mewat district, 45 kilometres

GURGAON: A couple was beaten to death and two women, including a minor, were gang-raped by robbers in Dhingeri village of Tauru in Mewat district, 45 kilometres from Gurgaon, on Wednesday night.

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Police said five armed robbers barged into the house, took the family hostage and beat them up, including children, with iron rods.

The horrific incident comes less than a month after highway robbers gang-raped a woman and her minor daughter in Dostpur village of Bulandshahr district in UP. The prime accused in the case, Saleem Bawaria, is reportedly a native of Mewat.

Police said the robbers entered the house around midnight. Two men, including the 40-year-old owner of the house, were sleeping outside while seven others were inside. “Seven members of the family-- including two women, two minor girls and three other children -- were inside the house,” a police officer said.

“One of those sleeping inside was the 35-year-old wife of the owner. The other was his sister who lived in the house with her husband, also aged 40, and their four children. A 22-year-old niece of the owner’s brother-in-law was sleeping inside,” the officer said.

The robbers first went inside and tied up the women and children. They came out and attacked the men with iron rods and sticks.

“When the men were left in no position to defend their family, the robbers went inside again. They beat up the women and children with sticks and gang-raped a 22-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl,” the officer said.

The 22-year-old victim told police the robbers beat up even the children and asked them for cash and jewellery. “They entered the house around midnight and stayed for about three hours. They ransacked the house and took away all the cash and jewellery,” the victim told the police.

After looting the house, the robbers locked up the family inside the house and left.

“One of the boys managed to free himself and sought help from the neighbours. The villagers reached the house and untied the family,” the police officer said. They rushed the injured to a local hospital where the house owner and his wife died.

On the complaint of the 22-year-old gang-rape victim, the police registered an FIR under Section 459 (grievous hurt), 460 (trespass) and 376 D (gang rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and other Sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the Arms Act.

“Prima facie, it appears a case of rape and murder during robbery. But we are looking at all possibilities and motives,” the police said.

Apart from jewellery and cash, the robbers also took away a two-wheeler. The police have formed five teams to nab the culprits. “No body has been identified but we are probing all possibilities and motives,” said Jaiprakash Yadav, SHO, Tauru police station.