Kolkata: Four persons arrested in connection with the alleged gangrape of a second-year MBBS student from Odisha on October 10 in West Bengal’s Durgapur, were sent to five-day judicial custody by the local court on Wednesday.
The lawyer of Wasef Ali, the classmate of the survivor, had moved the bail plea, arguing that they were in a romantic relationship and she had willingly left the private medical college and hospital campus with him. He noted that the victim’s initial statement supported this and emphasised their romantic relationship, while asserting that there was no rape charge against his client.
Public prosecutor Bibhas Chatterjee opposed the bail, citing a later statement of the young woman, claiming her classmate took her to eat ‘phuchka’ (pani puri) and molested her. He added that analysis of their WhatsApp chats could reveal more details. “We filed objections against their bail petition, and their bail has been rejected. The court has also allowed for the Test Identification Parade, which will be conducted inside the jail day after tomorrow,” he said.
They will be produced before the court again on October 27, he added.
The 23-year-old was allegedly gang-raped by five individuals in a forested area shortly after she stepped out of the campus on October 10 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.
Two among them, Sk Riyazuddin and Sk Safiq, were sent to jail custody for two days on October 19 to think over their plea before a local court, seeking permission to confess to their role in the crime. The duo had arrived at the spot later and had taken Rs 200 that the young woman was carrying and also snatched her cellphone.
The investigation revealed that the other three accused had demanded money after finding them in a compromising situation in the forested area and asked the male friend to get it. During this time, one of the accused raped the young woman. Two more persons 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.