The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, August 1, 2003, Chandigarh, India

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Talhan granthi held for rape
Tribune News Service

Faryaad Singh, a ‘pathi’ of Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh gurdwara at Talhan, who was arrested for allegedly raping a minor relative at his Talhan village residence. — Photo S. S. Chopra

Talhan (Jalandhar), July 31
A nine-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her uncle, a ‘paathi’ of Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurdwara here on Tuesday. While several villagers allegedly tried to hush up the matter, the police arrested the ‘paathi,’ Faryaad Singh, following a complaint by the girl, her mother and a few villagers.

The accused allegedly gave an intoxicant to the victim on the night of Tuesday and raped her. His wife had been away to her parents' place at Kullan village, near Batala, for the past eight or nine days.

The crime came to light when the girl was seen being beaten up by Faryaad Singh, who is her uncle, outside his house by women of the neighbourhood, who rescued the girl. The girl was living with Faryaad Singh and his wife since the death of her father and is a student of the government primary school.

The neighbours called up the girl's mother in Sandhanpur village in Batala, who approached the police with a complaint despite objections by a section of villagers who allegedly wanted to hush up the case. The police raided the house of the accused and arrested him.

The accused had allegedly made the girl drink some intoxicating substance before committing the crime. He beat her in the morning when she tried to raise the alarm.

A police party headed by Mr Balkar Singh, Sadar SHO, and a group of villagers prevented press photographers from taking pictures of the accused. Villagers were not ready to come out with details. An elderly woman was prevented from speaking when The Tribune team tried get details from her. A number of villagers followed the accused to the police station.

DSP Rajpal Sandhu, who is investigating the matter, said the accused had confessed to committing the crime. He said the girl had alleged that she had been repeatedly raped and threatened with dire consequences if she opened her mouth. Mr Sandhu said injury marks indicated that she was beaten up with some blunt object. He said the girl had been sent for a medical examination after her statement was recorded.

Condemning the incident, Mr Vijay Sampla, vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, said it was a shameful act by a religious person. He demanded strict action against the accused and all others who allegedly tried to hush up the matter.