This Article is From Apr 01, 2016

Police Case Registered On Alleged Gang-Rapes In Murthal By Jat Agitators

Police Case Registered On Alleged Gang-Rapes In Murthal By Jat Agitators

Another FIR was registered against unknown persons on the alleged gang-rape by Jat agitators in Murthal on February 22.

Chandigarh: For the first time since reports alleged that women were pulled out of cars and raped in Murthal near Delhi at the height of the Jat quota agitation, a police case has been filed.

An FIR or First Information Report was filed on the statement of a tour operator from Delhi.

The witness, Bobby Joshi, has reportedly told a Special Investigation Team that he had met some people near Murthal's Sukhdev Dhaba - one of the most popular roadside eateries in the Haryana town - who told him that a mob had looted vehicles and dragged women passengers towards the fields.

A special team of women police officers was asked to inquire into the allegations after contradictory reports on what happened in the early hours of February 22 when the mass rapes allegedly took place.

A newspaper report had said that cars were stopped by a mob of 30 and at least 10 women were dragged out and raped in the fields. Images of innerwear scattered on the fields, circulated on social media, were cited by some as proof of the rapes.

Reports quoted "eyewitnesses" as saying that the women lay in the fields almost till dawn until their families came looking for them.

An NGO said that its members spoke to witnesses who confirmed the rapes.

Taking note of the allegations, the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked Haryana's Chief Secretary and police chief to submit a report.

On March 17, the government said in its report that some women were harassed but there was no strong evidence to suggest they were raped.

The police also said the clothes scattered on the field were believed to have been looted from a shop near the alleged site of the crime.
.