Murthal gang-rape: First victim comes forward, files complaint against 7

Gurgaon: In the latest development in Murthal gang-rape mystery, a woman from Delhi's Narela area has filed a complaint accusing seven people of raping her during Jat quota agitation, reports claimed on Sunday.

As per initial reports, the SIT, which is probing the case, has confirmed that the woman has filed a case against seven people.

It is for the first time a victim has come forward to report about the alleged crime ever since it was reported. However, the investigating agency cannot confirm yet if the assault was linked to Jat stir.

“The woman who called us yesterday, came to meet us. She claims that one of the rapists was her own brother-in-law. She identifies all the rapists. We think it could be a case of domestic dispute also. Investigation is on,” says Rajshree Singh, DIG Sonipat.

"She complained that she was travelling from Haridwar when her bus broke down near Murthal. She said she boarded a van (taxi) in which other people, including women, were also travelling. However, the van was stopped by some people, who pulled them out and gang-raped her in the fields," she added.

The woman has claimed that her 15-year-old daughter was accompanying her when she was pulled out of the car and raped at a nearby house. Though she claims her daughter was not raped, her clothes too were torn off.

The woman also said that other women were also raped at the highway.

Media reports have claimed that the mass gang rapes took place in the early hours of Monday (February 22) and that up to 10 women were sexually assaulted by a group of nearly 40 hooligans during the Jat community`s agitation or reservation.

The reports said that the women were pulled out of their cars, stripped and gang-raped in nearby fields. The victims later reached a nearby popular dhaba and sought help.

Media reports said clothes and undergarments of women were found strewn in the area but Haryana Police claimed that these could have fallen out from bags of the commuters who were stopped and chased away by the Jat protestors who set their vehicles on fire later.

The Haryana government on Friday set up an all-women inquiry committee to probe the alleged gang rapes on women who were commuting on the National Highway-1 early Monday.

The inquiry committee, headed by DIG Rajshree Singh and comprising two women Deputy Superintendents of Police Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur, on Saturday visited Hasanpur village near Murthal, where the alleged assault took place.

The Haryana government and police earlier maintained that no gang rapes occurred near Murthal. 

(With Agency inputs)