The Rajasthan Police have arrested one person for allegedly raping a 20-year-old Dalit woman in a bus that was travelling to Jaipur from Kanpur, reported The Indian Express on Saturday.
The woman was raped allegedly by two drivers in the intervening night of December 9 and 10 when she boarded the bus for Jaipur to meet a relative.
A first information report was registered on December 10 against the accused persons, Aarif and Lalit, under Section 376D (gangrape) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
While Aarif has been arrested, Lalit is absconding.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Phoolchand Meena, the investigating officer in the case, told The Indian Express that as all the seats in the bus were occupied, the two accused persons told the woman that she could sleep on a seat inside the driver’s cabin.
“Prima facie it appears that both the accused took turns to rape her,” said Meena. “As one of the duo committed the crime, the other drove the bus. After a while, a passenger went to the driver’s cabin and asked the driver to stop the bus for a toilet break. It was at this point that he spotted the woman and suspected foul play.”
The passengers in the bus then roughed up both drivers, following which one managed to escape.
“Thereafter, one of the passengers in the bus, who is also a driver by profession, drove the bus to Jaipur.” said the police official.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!