In another breakthrough in the rape of a five-year-old girl in the national capital, the police on Monday arrested the second accused in the case in Bihar.
The man, identified as Pradeep, was arrested by the Delhi Police with assistance from the special task force and the Bihar Police, at Barahiyya in Lakhisarai district. He was produced before the chief judicial magistrate, who allowed the Delhi Police to take him along on a three-day transit remand. Bihar Director-General of Police Abhayanand said: “The second suspect was brought to Patna from Lakhisarai, after which he would be flown to Delhi.”
Pradeep has apparently confessed to his involvement in brutalising the minor victim during interrogation by the Bihar Police. His name was revealed by main accused Manoj Kumar, who was arrested at Muzaffarpur in Bihar on April 20.
Kumar’s family was vocal in expressing their disgust at his hideous act. His wife, Archana, has demanded death sentence for her husband.
“How could he do this? Hang him till death,” said Archana, who was married to Manoj last year. Archana’s father, Mahendra Shah, is now persuading his daughter to divorce Manoj.
“I feel so ashamed in having such a son-in-law that I could not sleep for the last two days. I am trying to convince my daughter that it’s better to remain without a husband than being the wife of a rape accused,” he said.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar have ruled out resigning in the wake of protests over the rape. Shinde, in his statement in the Lok Sabha, said the joint commissioner of police (vigilance) has been asked to conduct an inquiry and probe allegations that some police officials tried to silence the victim’s family with a bribe.
Kumar said at a press conference that stepping down will not solve the basic problem. “The issue is of mental depravity, psychopathy and mental sickness and these won’t be solved by anyone resigning,” he said. “Exemplary action will be taken against erring police officers.”
The victim, who is recuperating at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), was put on a liquid and semi-liquid diet. Doctors at AIIMS said her condition has improved.
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