Date:26/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/26/stories/2008012657830400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Dalit girl raped; driver arrested

Staff Reporter

SANGAREDDY: A 17-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly raped by two persons, including an auto driver and the driver of a local councillor, on Wednesday. Nawaz, the driver of Municipal Councillor Shaik Saber belonging to the Congress, was arrested on Friday after the victim identified him in a parade of suspects.

The incident came into light after the girl was taken to the office of Deputy Superintendent of Police Mushtaq Ahmad by some social organisations. The victim, a daughter of a nurse working in the district headquarters hospital, lodged a compliant with the Sangareddy Rural Police Station a day after the crime was committed.

She alleged that she was picked up by Shafee, driver of local legislator T. Jayaprakash Reddy, and two auto drivers while she was waiting for her friend Shareef who was running a tea shop opposite the hospital. With the victim confirming that she saw a car with ‘MLA sticker’, the suspicion initially was on the driver of the local MLA Jayaprakash Reddy. However, the girl identified Nawaz. Sarfu, the auto driver, was absconding. Meanwhile, BJP Dalit Morcha activists, led by State secretary Jagan, met the DSP and demanded action against the culprits .

AIDWA demand

Hyderabad Special Correspondent writes: Meanwhile, the State committee of All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has demanded immediate arrest of the driver of Jayaprakash Reddy and his friends.

The AIDWA leaders charged the police with trying to weaken the case by claiming that the victim was mentally unsound.