The Sri City police on Sunday took three persons into custody on charges of gang-rape of a physically challenged woman (25) at a Dalitwada in the industrial belt of Sri City in Varadaiahpalem mandal. The police confirmed that apart from being physically challenged, the victim is also mentally unsound.
The trio were also facing charges of arranging forcible abortion of the victim believed to be three month pregnant, a month ago.
According to information, the accused of Mopurupalle village, identified as Sivaiah, Rangaiah, and Siddaiah, in the age group of 35-40 years, doing odd jobs in the neighbourhood industries had eyes on the physically challenged unmarried woman six months. When her mother, working as a health worker at an industry was away, the trio had allegedly sexually assaulted the woman. Since then, their outrage continued for the next six months. A month ago, when the woman developed pregnancy related symptoms, her mother took her to a nearby clinic, leading to confirmation that she was three-month pregnant.
The trio learning about this approached the mother and daughter, and allegedly threatened them to remain silent for which they would be paid ₹1.5 lakh, which was reportedly ignored later.
However, fearing social stigma, the mother budged to the threat and allowed the daughter to undergo abortion a month ago.
On Saturday night, a local Sarpanch, who came to know about the injustice done to the family and their helplessness, reported the matter to the Sri City police, who swung into action and nabbed the trio.
It was observed that the trio had recently been after then woman to continue the exploitation, post abortion. This has reportedly prompted the victim’s mother to approach the police. The police have expanded the purview of investigation as to who had conducted the abortion on the victim.
The Sri City police said that a case was registered and investigation is on.
