Twist in Junagarh gang-rape: Victim accuses eye witness main perpetrator

Bhawanipatna: In a major twist to the gang-rape of a nursing student in Jaring forest near NH-26 under Junagarh police limits in Kalahandi district, the survivor claimed that driver Lalitendra Sabar, who is an eye-witness in the police investigation, is the ‘Khalnayak’ (mastermind) of the incident.

Speaking to a web channel, the survivor said she was waiting for a bus to her house after consulting a doctor here on September 14, when Sabar came on a bike and stopped by her. He offered her a lift to Junagarh.

“While I was riding pillion on his bike, Sabar’s phone ranged twice. He later stopped near Banamalipur Chhak, when six youth came out of nowhere and forcibly took me into the forest. After that, Sabar raped me first before the six others took turns to do the same. In the meantime, one of the accused took a video of me getting raped,” said the girl.

Expressing her discontentment, the girl questioned as to why police have not arrested Khalnayak (mastermind) Sabar till yet.

“I want all the seven accused to be hanged till death, else I will end my life,” said the rape survivor pleading for justice.

When asked, the Junagarh police station IIC said the girl had not said anything that sort of in her FIR statement earlier.

“She had not brought the allegation against Sabar in her statement earlier. We will continue our investigation into the matter as per law,” said the IIC.

Notably, the girl was allegedly gang-raped in Jaring forest on September 14 and a video of the incident has gone viral on social media. On September 25, the police nabbed total nine accused in connection with  the gang-rape.