Dalit Girl Gang Raped By Trio On University Campus In Jodhpur

A minor girl who had eloped with her boyfriend was allegedly gang-raped by three college students in Jodhpur in Rajasthan. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday and the cops have nabbed three accused in connection with the case.

The girl had escaped from her home in Ajmer with her boyfriend. They arrived in Jodhpur on bus around 10:30 pm. When they went to a guest house, a caretaker named Suresh Jat misbehaved with her, PTI reported citing Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Amrita Duhan.

According to the victims, the two then went to Paota Chauraha, where the three accused - Samandar Singh Bhati, Dharmpal Singh and Bhattam Singh (aged 20-22) - approached them. The accused befriended the girl and her boyfriend, and offered them food and cold drinks, the DCP said.

The trio also assured them of help when the couple spoke about their story. Around 4 am, the accused took them to the hockey ground at the old campus of Jai Narayan Vyas University (JNVU) on the pretext of taking them to the railway station, Duhan said.

After reaching the ground, they thrashed the boy and held him, hostage, while taking turns to rape the girl.

However, the morning walkers came to their help and informed the police.

Police swung into action and launched a hunt for the accused. A dog squad and a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team were also at the spot.

Hours after the incident, the accused were traced to a house in Ganeshpura near Ratanada in Jodhpur. They tried to flee but were injured after they fell. While two of them fractured their legs while trying to flee, the third sustained an injury in the hand, Duhan said.

"We arrested all of them after treatment," she said.

Samandar Singh is a first-year student at JNVU, Dharm Pal Singh is a post-graduation student at JNVU and Bhattam Singh is pursuing B.Ed from Ajmer, the officer said.

Police said they have also arrested the guest house caretaker for misbehaving with the girl.

Hours before the incident, Rajasthan Chief Secretary Usha Sharma and Director General of Police Umesh Mishra had held a meeting to review the law and order situation in the state.

DCP Duhan said the three accused were engaged in canvassing for a student leader who is expecting a ticket from the ABVP for student union elections.

However, ABVP national secretary Hushiyar Meena said the accused have no links with the student group.

"The ABVP demands the strictest punishment for the accused. The law and order of Rajasthan is deteriorating day by day and the safety of university campuses is being neglected by the Congress government," he claimed.

In Jaipur, Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) president Abhishek Choudhary said the student group will give a representation to the governor against the ABVP on Monday.

"This incident is a blot on humanity. Strictest action should be taken against the accused. We will hand over a representation to the governor against the polluted ideology of ABVP," he said.

Congress leader and Social Welfare Board chairperson Archana Sharma said in Jaipur that the police promptly arrested the accused, which shows the state government's commitment to women's safety.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has spoken to Director General of Police (DGP) Umesh Mishra about the incident, and instructed him to ensure strict punishment to the accused.