Manipuri girls molestation: accused refuse TIP

Five men arrested for allegedly beating and molesting two Manipuri girls and hurling racist abuses at them today refused in a Delhi court to appear before the alleged victims to be indetified by them.

After the five accused -- Prem Chand, Yogesh Prasad, Bharat, Manoj and Bhagwandas    -- refused to undergo TIP (test indetification parade), Metropolitan Magistarte Monika Saroha, who was hearing the matter behind the closed door, sent them to 14 days of judicial custody.

"The accused persons be produced on February 17 from JC (judicial custody)," court sources said.

The sources also said that during the in-camera hearing, the accused persons have refused to undergo the test, saying they will be identified by the complainanints.

Yesterday, the police got one-day custody to quiz Chand who was produced before the judge.

The incident, which occurred at Kotla Mubarakpur area on January 25 evening, came to light following an uproar over the death of a student from Arunachal Pradesh Nido Tania who was assaulted by shopkeepers on January 29.

Meanwhile, the court has recorded the statement of the girls under section 164 (recording of confession and statement) of CrPC.

The statement of the girls, who are also the complainants in the case, was recorded by the magistrate in her chamber.

The source said the three boys, who claimed to be the eyewitness and victims of the alleged attack, have also recorded their statements.

The statement recorded by a magistrate under section 164 of CrPC bind the accused/witness against taking any U-turn by him during trial and any such act makes him liable to be prosecuted on the charge of perjury.

Facing criticism over "delay" in lodging of an FIR and alleged inaction, police intially arrested 32-year-old Chand from Kotla Mubarakpur here, seven days after the incident.

Police have booked the five under sections of IPC dealing with section 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) read with 34 (common intention) and section 3 (11) of SC/ST Act.