Woman files 1st rape complaint in Murthal incident

Days after allegations of rape and molestation by Jat quota agitators near Haryana's Murthal, a woman on Sunday came forward and registered a case of gangrape against seven people, including her brother-in-law, in connection with the incident.

"An FIR has been lodged against seven persons in connection with a gangrape on the basis of a complaint filed by a Narela-based woman today," Haryana Police, DIG, Rajshree Singh told reporters.

She said the victim had alleged she was raped on the intervening night of February 22-23 and the perpetrators included her brother-in-law. The complainant said she knew all of them.

The officer, who heads a three-member team of women police officers constituted by the Haryana government to go into alleged incidents of rape and molestation of several women by Jat protesters, however, said a "family dispute" could be the reason behind the woman filing the complaint.

The officer said the victim was not sure about the exact scene of the crime but claimed she was raped in a building near Murthal when she was on way to Narela in Delhi from Haridwar on a van.

The woman, however, said her 15-year-old daughter, who was accompanying her was not raped but her clothes were torn.

The DIG said the woman had called her up on Saturday and her statement was recorded on Sunday.

Singh said said most of the complaints she was receiving was from men who claimed their vehicles had been damaged by the agitators.

Earlier, some locals, including truck drivers, had claimed they had seen women being dragged to the fields by the protesters. TV channels showed footage of garments worn by women strewn in some places.

Some village heads had, however, trashed their claims and described it as an attempt to defame the people of the area.

Earlier in the day, three truck drivers had denied having witnessed any incident of sexual assault or rape even as Chief Minister M L Khattar said the guilty shall not go unpunished.

The government also announced an interim assistance of Rs 1.12 crore to those whose properties had been damaged during the stir.

Having suffered massive financial loss during the agitation for inclusion of Jats in the Other Backward Classes list, the business community in worst-hit Rohtak demanded tax relief and electricity bill waiver.

"Three truck drivers have denied that they had seen molestation or rape of women (at Murthal),"  Rajshree Singh said.

Truck drivers Sukhwinder, Abdul Wahid and Yadwinder have, however, said their trucks were burnt by protesters.

A team of three women police officers -- Rajshree Singh and DSPs Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur was formed by Haryana government to probe alleged incidents of sexual assault on some women near Murthal on the night intervening February 22 and 23.

"The state government is taking serious action on the news report about alleged inappropriate behavior with some women during the protest at Murthal in Sonipat district.

"A Special Investigation Team comprising three senior women police officers has been constituted. One can give any related information or evidence to the team over the telephone or through letter or online. If any such untoward incident happened, the guilty would be punished," Khattar said.