Faridkot, November 4
With three more arrests in the kidnapping case of 15-year-old Shruti, the Faridkot police claims to have arrested all 17 accused. NS Dhillon, Inspector General Police (IGP), said with three more arrests from Chandigarh today, the police investigation in the case was almost complete.

Those arrested have been identified as Navjot Kaur, mother of Nishan Singh; Dimpi Samra, a former Akali municipal councillor; and Pankaj Gautam, a Moga resident, who provided shelter to the culprits.

The IGP said as the medical examination of the minor girl proved that she was physically exploited, the prime accused Nishan Singh has been booked for the rape offence as well.

Nishan and all other 16 accused in the kidnapping case have already been booked for the offences relating to criminal assault, kidnapping, trespass and possessing illegal weapons. The police has moved an application in the court of the CJM, Faridkot, urging it to reconsider its October 23 order of sending the girl to Nari Niketan, Jalandhar, and restoring the minor to her parents.

“Believing that the utmost safety of the minor girl is with her parents, the police has moved an application, demanding the court to send the girl to Faridkot”, said the IGP. Earlier on October 23 when the girl was sent to Nari Niketan after her recovery from Goa, it had led to a lot of outcry.

The police was accused of keeping the girl away from her parents. It was alleged that the girl was fear-stricken and she was under round-the-clock police supervision at Nari Niketan. The IGP said the police was deputed at Nari Niketan for the safety of the girl as there was no security in the shelter home. “This is the reason that the police now wants the custody of the minor girl to be handed over to her parents”, said Dhillon.