Badaun rape: More heads roll; accused on the run

More heads rolled on Saturday as investigations revealed that other police personnel did not stop two constables from gang raping a minor inside the Musajhag thana in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district on New Year’s eve.

More heads rolled on Saturday as investigations revealed that other police personnel did not stop two constables from gang raping a minor inside the Musajhag thana in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district on New Year’s eve.

Additional director general of police (crime) HS Awasthi -- who visited Badaun on Saturday – said over phone that he has suspended beat in-charge Himanshu Shukla, two home guards and a clerk besides sending sub-inspector Sohan Vir Singh to the police lines.

The state government has already suspended the station house officer (SHO) of Musajhag police station, Ram Lakhan Singh, on charges of dereliction of duty.

However, five police teams including the special task force (STF) have not been able to trace the two accused -- Veer Pal Singh Yadav and Avanish Yadav – who are on the run since December 31.

“Investigation into the rape case is continuing and action would be taken against the erring police personnel,” Awasthi added.

A PTI report said that the ADG disclosed the identity of the girl’s parents and their residential address while talking to reporters after having an hour-long meeting with her family members.

On Saturday, the police teams conducted raids at suspected hideouts of the constables in Badaun and neighbouring districts. A police team also raided their village located in Bareilly district.

Police sources said that family-members and relatives of the accused were detained for interrogation but were later allowed to go.

Awasthi said that there was no criminal record of the two constables but one them had been penalised for dereliction of duty in the past.