Agartala gang rape: 2 minor among six arrested

Agartala, Sep 26 (IANS) The police have arrested six persons, including two minors, in connection with the gang rape of a woman here late on Tuesday night. A total of 10 persons have been accused in the case.

The incident took place late on Tuesday night when the middle-aged woman was gang raped and dumped on the roadside while she was returning to her rented home in Badarghat after consulting doctors about her ailing daughter, who is a thalassemia patient.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Arindam Nath (southern range) told IANS on Thursday that six persons have been arrested in connection with the case while search is on to nab the others. Two of the detainees are under the age of 18.

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who also holds the home portfolio, has called for stern action against the culprits.

"The victim was first kidnapped by an auto rickshaw driver. She was then taken towards the Agartala airport and gang raped before being dumped near the old Raj Bhavan on the outskirts," a police officer said.

The family members of the victim later rescued her in an unconscious state and admitted her to the Tripura Medical College in a critical condition.

A host of leaders cutting across party lines, including Opposition leader Manik Sarkar, BJP's Pratima Bhowmik, Chief Minister's wife and social activist Niti Deb, Congress' Subal Bhowmik and human rights activist Purosottam Roy Barman, have visited the victim at the hospital.

Panchali Bhattacharjee, wife of former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is supervising the treatment of the victim, told IANS: "I have never come across such a horrific crime in the capital city of Tripura."

Meanwhile, the chairperson of Tripura Women's Commission, Barnali Goswami, has spoken to the Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Rajiv Singh, demanding capital punishment for the perpetrators.

"We would leave no stone unturned until the offenders get capital punishment," Goswami said.