Mhow case: Anil Baror and Pawan Bansunia were produced before a local court. Another accused, Ritesh Bhabhar, was arrested on Thursday night.
The Madhya Pradesh said they have arrested three of the six persons who allegedly assaulted two junior Indian Army officers and raped their woman friend near Mhow in Indore district.
Anil Baror (27) and Pawan Bansunia (23) were produced before a local court which remanded them in police custody for five days, said a police official. Another accused, Ritesh Bhabhar (25), was arrested on Thursday night, news agency PTI reported.
The announcement of arrests came on a day Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party over the incident, alleging “non-existent” law and order in the states ruled by the saffron party.
Superintendent of police (Rural) Hitika Vasal told PTI that Bhabhar was accused of threatening the two Army officers and their two women friends with a pistol during the incident, while the other accused were carrying sticks.
A total of six accused have been identified in connection with the incident that took place in the wee hours of Wednesday near the popular tourist spot Jam Gate, about 30 km from Mhow military cantonment, police said.
“Several teams are on the lookout for the three absconding accused, and a reward of ₹10,000 has been announced for (information about) each of them,” the SP said.
The Army officers, aged 23 and 24, undergoing the Young Officers course at the Infantry School in Mhow cantonment town, had gone out for a picnic with their two female friends.
The accused arrived at the picnic spot around 2am, and started assaulting one of the officers and his female friend who were sitting in the car, police said.
Upon hearing the commotion, the other officer and his woman friend, who were on a hilltop, reached the spot. Later, after police reached the spot, the Army officers and their female friends were brought to Mhow civil hospital.
What medical report found
PTI, citing an official, reported that a medical examination confirmed that one of the women was raped. A case has been registered under sections 70 (gang rape), 310-2 (dacoity), 308-2 (extortion) and 115-2 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under sections of the Arms Act based on the complaint filed by the officer.
ThePrint reported that one officer has expressed concern that one of the women might have been sexually assaulted by the attackers, leading the police to book them for rape, among other charges. The woman, however, is yet to give her statement.