The Noida Police have decided to press rape charges against the accused involved in the murder of the 22-year-old girl whose body was found in a village near Sector 63 on January 5, despite an inconclusive vaginal swab report.
“We have received the vaginal swab report which has not confirmed rape. However, scientifically it does not altogether negate the possibility of rape. Since there is a compelling circumstantial evidence gathered from the spot indicating that the girl was sexually assaulted, we will go ahead with the rape charge. The report would be submitted to a three-doctor medical board for a conclusive remark on the issue,” said a police officer.
The police have also invoked relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“As per law, offences of murder or rape committed against any person belonging to the Schedule Caste or the Scheduled Tribe by those from the other castes automatically attract the provisions under the Act,” said the officer.
The police on Monday night said they were close to nabbing the third accused named Udayveer, who is also suspected to have played an active role in the victim’s murder. They had earlier arrested main accused Naresh, a friend of the victim, and Kailash Yadav after they purportedly confessed to their involvement.
Police investigations revealed that Naresh worked in the same garment factory where the girl was employed as a tailor and they were close friends. She recently proposed marriage to him, but he turned it down and allegedly decided to eliminate her when she insisted on tying the knot. Around 9 p.m. on January 4 she was on her way home along with Naresh after finishing her shift when he along with the other accused persons strangled her. The police suspect that she was raped before being murdered.
“The victim’s family will get compensation under the cheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act and also from the factory owner, who was responsible to ensure her safety while on her way home from work late at night,” said the officer.
Earlier, the area police post in-charge was sent to police lines and three constables suspended after the victim’s relatives alleged that they did not register her missing complaint on January 5 suggesting that she would have gone out along with some friend.
