Another TN shocker: woman gang-raped, robbed in Vellore; two held

A chance arrest of two men fighting over money on the streets of Vellore a week ago led to the revelation that the duo, along with three others, had allegedly raped a woman in the intervening night of March 16 and 17. The woman, accompanied by her male friend, was also reportedly robbed at knifepoint.

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The Vellore police initially struggled to trace the alleged rape survivor because no such complaint was filed in any of the police stations within their jurisdiction. However, later they found a complaint of rape and robbery on an e-mail sent to the office of the Superintendent of Police. The case reportedly matched the incident narrated by the two arrested men.

A police team reached out to the woman, who was reluctant to speak fearing they would reveal her identity. The police promised her anonymity and sought her cooperation in strengthening the case against the three men and two minors.

According to police, on the night of March 16, the woman was returning home with her male friend after watching a movie in a theatre. “The couple took an auto, which had two men seated inside. The auto driver told them that it was a share auto and they were co-passengers. The auto driver then took the couple to a secluded place where two others joined them. They first took away their money and valuables and allegedly raped the woman,” said a senior police officer.

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The police have not revealed the names of the five accused (including two minors) to protect the rape survivor’s identity.

Based on the woman’s complaint, the Vellore police have registered a case against the three men under Sections 365 (kidnapping), 368 (wrongfully confining kidnapped person), 376 (D) (gang rape),  376(E) (punishment for repeat offender) of the Indian Penal Code read with Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Woman Harassment Act.

The two minors have been sent to a juvenile justice home. Police also seized the auto.

The two arrested men were produced in a local court on March 22 and remanded in judicial custody. The police will seek their custody to interrogate them and get the whereabouts of the third accused, who is still missing.