Lathicharge after protests over gangrape in Nagpur

Nagpur, Jan 15 (UNI) The police today had to resort to mild lathicharge after protestors pelted stones and burned tyres here following Saturday's murder of a man and the alleged gangrape of his wife.

Deputy commissioner of police, Mr Suresh Mekala told UNI that protests were staged at Kharbi Square in Hassanbagh to demand the arrest of all the accused in the case and protection to the complainant and her family.

''The situation is tense but under control. Additional security personnel have been deployed in the area'', he said.

Shops in the area have downed their shutters after trouble broke out this morning.

Mr Mekala said the police have not yet reached a definite conclusion regarding the allegation of gang rape made by the wife of the deceased in her complaint.

''We are awaiting the report of the chemical analysis of the woman's clothes and are also examining other circumstantial evidence,'' he clarified.

Meanwhile, police arrested one suspect, Sheikh Salim Sheikh Muniyar (30), in connection with the case late last night, taking the total number of arrests so far to four.

The police are now looking out for three other suspects, including a woman, for the murder of Abdul Karim Abdul Rahim (35), a resident of Gausiya Colony, who was assaulted on Saturday by seven persons, accusing him of theft.

Late last night, mourners at Abdul's funeral torched the scrap shop from which the deceased was accused of having stolen a hammer.

In her complaint to the police, Abdul's 30-year-old wife has alleged of being gang-raped by six men after beating her husband to death with iron rods.

Accordingly, the police have registered an offence under sections 302, 376 (G), 323 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against seven persons.

UNI