Police detains another minor in Hyderabad rape case; hunt on for the fifth accused

The police have detained the fourth accused, also a minor, in the Hyderabad gang rape case, officials said on Sunday. The hunt for fifth accused — an adult — is going on, they said, reports Hindustan Times.

A 17-year-old schoolgirl was allegedly gang-raped in the Jubilee Hills area of the Hyderabad after she went to a party organised by her classmates on May 28. A total of five accused have been booked so far.

Joel Davis, the deputy commissioner of Telangana Police (West Zone), told reporters the accused were identified via CCTV footage and the girl’s statement.

Also read: Two, including son of TRS leader, arrested in Hyderabad teenage girl rape case

BJP leader criticised for releasing photos

Meanwhile, on Sunday, BJP MLA Raghunandan Rao was criticised for releasing photos and videos of the survivor. Telangana Congress leader Manickam Tagore slammed Rao and questioned how he got access to a video that only the cops and the offenders are supposed to possess. Criticising the move, Tagore said the BJP MLA should be booked for compromising the identity of the victim.

Rao had on Saturday released pictures and videos of the minor victim and a boy and asked the police to clarify if the boy in the photo was the son of an AIMIM MLA.

Political row over names of accused

A political row has erupted over the case with some BJP leaders alleging that the “name of the rapists” are being guarded. “Law protects identity of a rape victim. But in the case of minor girl’s rape in Hyderabad, names of the rapists are being guarded zealously. After all what is the compulsion? TRS leaders, who were chest thumping after the extra judicial killing of rapists in 2019, are whimpering…,” BJP’s Amit Malviya tweeted on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has sought a report from the police on the matter. “Deeply anguished over this heinous incident, the Hon’ble Governor has ordered for the submission of a detailed report within two (2) days on the issue from the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police,” an official statement read.

Also read: Five school-going boys from Hyderabad booked for raping teenaged girl