Australian girl levels rape allegations against ex-friend

Ludhiana, Aug 10 (UNI) The Punjab Police have booked a local resident on charges of raping an Australian girl during her stay in the state about two years back.

The case under section 376 of the IPC was registered against Anant Parkash Nayar at the Habowal police station here today, police officials confirmed.

The case follows an inquiry conducted by SP (City-I) following a complaint received from the victim through the Australian High Commission in New Delhi. The local SSP had received the complaint from the High Commission in May this year, and had deputed the SP (City) to inquire into the matter and then register the case after taking the opinion of the District Attorney.

In the complaint, the girl stated that she had met the alleged culprit in October 2004 in Australia and they both became friends.

She then visited India in February 2005 and came to Ludhiana where she stayed in the house of Nayar.

The complanint alleged that Nayar raped her a number of times at his house and in various hotels. Thereafter she went back to her native country where she gave birth to a child.

The victim through the High Commission has also sent seprate photographs of the child as well as those of Nayar and herself to the police. She has claimed that the child was proof of her allegations leveled against the alleged culprit, who had even promised to marry her after she delivered the child.

The police has through the High Commission asked the victim to come to Ludhiana alongwith the child. Police officials said that a DNA test of the child, mother and the culprit would establish the truth and parentage of the child.

Even the police has registered the case but it has not been successful in nabbing the culprit.

UNI