Bhubaneswar: West Bengal police are looking for some missing links in the alleged gangrape of a second-year MBBS student from Odisha, amid inconsistencies in the statements of her male friend and the five arrested local youths.
While it was initially claimed that the incident took place when the 23-year-old along with her male friend, , Wasif Ali, left the campus of the private medical college in Durgapur to buy dinner, subsequent investigation revealed that they were found in a compromising situation in a forested area by three of the five accused. The accused demanded money and asked the male friend to get it. During this time, one of the accused raped the young woman while two others watched. Two more youths later arrived, and snatched away the phone of the survivor. The male friend returned with money, following which they were allowed to leave, IANS reported, quoting police sources.
It further stated that Wasif Ali misled investigators from the start, creating confusion. Discrepancies were also found in the statements of the survivor, her friend, and the five youths.
Police are expected to seek an extension of the remand of the accused for further questioning. A plea for test identification (TI) parade of the accused will also be moved on October 22, the next date of hearing on the case, according to reports.
PLEA TO CONFESS
Meanwhile, two of the six accused, Sk Riyazuddin and Sk Safiq, have filed a plea under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita before a local court seeking permission to confess their role in the October 10 crime.
On October 19, they were sent to jail custody for two days so they could think over their plea for confession. The court will pass an order on October 21.
The duo had arrived at the spot later and instead of helping her, they called the rapists to the spot and the five demanded Rs 3,000 from the student. They took Rs 200 that the young woman was carrying and also snatched her cellphone. Riyazuddin worked as a guard at the medical college where the survivor studied till he was sacked five years ago for indiscipline. Safiq worked at a local factory.
Police said if the court accepts the plea, the two could be treated as approvers during the trial.
SURVIVOR UNDER POLICE PROTECTION
The second-year medical student from Odisha was allegedly gang-raped by five individuals in a forested area in West Burdwan’s Durgapur after she had stepped out of the campus on the fateful evening. Following the survivor’s complaint, all five accused – Sk Riyazuddin, Sk Safiq, Nasiruddin Sk, Apu Bauri, Firdaus Sk, and Ali – were arrested, with police confirming that only one committed the sexual assault. The male friend was later arrested due to inconsistencies in his statements.
According to a TOI report, the 23-year-old, in her complaint, alleged that the classmate groped her and fled while she was struggling to fight off the attackers.
The medical student is staying in a rented house in Durgapur with her mother under police protection after being discharged from the hospital on October 18. The father of the young woman left for Odisha on Friday. He had repeatedly told the media that they do not want to continue her education in Durgapur, while demanding a CBI probe into the incident to ensure swift punishment for the perpetrators.