Nine booked for gang-rape of Dalit woman in Sohna

They also allegedly threatened to circulate videos of the crime online if she told anyone about it

The Sohna police on Thursday booked nine persons for allegedly raping a 20-year-old Dalit woman for over a year. The men allegedly threatened to circulate videos of the gang-rape if she told anyone about it.

The woman and her family alleged the police were reluctant to file their complaint at first. (HT File Photo)

A case against was registered at Sohna city police station on Thursday, after the men allegedly not only gang raped the woman again on June 8, but also stole jewellery worth Rs10 lakh from her house in the village.

The accused have been identified as Khalid, Nizam, Naseem, Appal alias Irfan, Kale, Javed, Akbar, Allaudin and Sarvez. They have been booked under various sections of the IPC including section 376 D and IT Act, Arms Act and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The victim alleged that in June last year, Khalid and his brother had entered her house and raped her at gunpoint. She said they also shot videos and photos of the incident, which they used to blackmail her over the year. She alleged that while the Khalid kept raping her, he also brought others who also sexually exploited her.

The victim and her family also alleged that the local police was reluctant to register the case when approached. “The police at local level should handle crimes against women with more sensitivity as the victims already face mental trauma,” said advocate Rajiv Kaushik, who helped the family register the case.

Ashok Bakshi, DCP, South said the case was registered on Thursday and a probe is underway. “The matter is being investigated and the accused will be nabbed soon,” he said.

Sources said a police team had searched the village of the accused near Sohna, but they remained absconding.