Village Head Arrested for Alleged Rape of 19-Year-Old Woman in Uttarakhand District: Police
In a deeply troubling incident that has reverberated throughout the community, the village head (Gram Pradhan) of Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district has been taken into custody by the police on charges of allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman who is reported to have mental health issues.
Identification and Arrest of Accused Village Head:
The accused, identified as Bhagwan Singh and serving as the village head, was successfully identified and subsequently apprehended from the village on Sunday evening, as confirmed by the police.
Statement from Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police:
Rudraprayag Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishakha Ashok Bhadane provided an official statement on the matter, stating, “We arrested the accused, Bhagwan Singh, the Pradhan of the village, on Sunday evening. The search for the two other accused is ongoing, as they are currently absconding.”
Unidentified Accomplice of Nepali Origin:
SP Bhadane further clarified that among the three accused, one individual remains unidentified and is believed to be of Nepali origin. The victim has been unable to provide clear details about this particular individual, thus making the identification process challenging.
This development underscores the complexity of the case and the diligent efforts being undertaken by law enforcement to bring all involved parties to justice. As the investigation unfolds, authorities will continue to prioritize the pursuit of the two absconding suspects and work towards establishing the identity of the unidentified individual of Nepali origin to ensure a thorough and just resolution to this distressing incident.
“We did not include gang rape charges in the First Information Report (FIR) because the three accused allegedly raped the victim on separate occasions over an extended period of time,” clarified Superintendent of Police (SP) Vishakha Ashok Bhadane.
Sub-Inspector and Investigative Officer (IO) Seema Chauhan clarified, stating, “I received the case file on Saturday and cannot provide any official statement regarding the incident until I have recorded the statement of the survivor.”
The case in question has been registered under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as confirmed by IO Chauhan.
Narendra Singh Rawat, Revenue Sub-Inspector, offered insight into the procedural aspects of the case. He explained that the survivor’s father lodged a complaint with the revenue police, naming three individuals, including the village head (gram pradhan) and two others, as the accused parties.
Furthermore, Rawat revealed that on August 28, the case was officially transferred from the revenue police to the regular police, following the orders of the District Magistrate (DM). He further stated that he forwarded the case to the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) on August 29, marking a significant step in the progression of the investigation. These details underscore the organized and systematic approach taken by the authorities to ensure a comprehensive inquiry into the matter.
