Muzaffarnagar: Arrest warrants out against 22 rape accused

A Muzaffarnagar court has issued a non-bailable warrant against 22 persons allegedly involved in five incidents of gang-rape during riots in the Uttar Pradesh district.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Narender Kumar issued the arrest warrant against 22 accused, who are on the run, after Special Investigation Team probing the cases approached the court.

The SIT had approached the court seeking arrest warrants  against the 22 accused for their alleged involvement in five of the six gang-rape incidents that had allegedly taken place during the riots in September last.

Investigation against five other persons allegedly involved in the another gang-rape case was going on, sources said.

SIT had identified 22 out of 27 accused allegedly involved in the gang-rape cases but were at large.

The SIT petitioned for the arrest warrant after Supreme Court issued notice to the state government and the Centre recently on a writ petition filed by six victim women, who claimed that they were gang-raped in Phugana village during the communal riots.

Meanwhile, the National Minority Commission has expressed concern over the delay in arresting the accused.