Dehat Kotwali area. The arrests followed an early-morning encounter on Wednesday, during which both suspects sustained injuries while attempting to flee.
The assault occurred on the night of August 11 when the victim was returning from her maternal grandparents’ home around 8 PM. She was allegedly waylaid by one of the accused and taken to an isolated field, where she was assaulted. Unable to speak or hear, she was left vulnerable and unconscious. Her family, alarmed when she did not return by 9 PM, found her in the field and rushed her to the district women’s hospital. She is now in stable condition.
Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar confirmed an FIR was promptly registered, with special teams formed to trace the culprits. CCTV footage of the victim fleeing her assailants went viral online, aiding the investigation. Police tracked the motorcycles used by the accused, leading to their identification on Tuesday night.
Around 12:30 AM Wednesday, the duo was intercepted near the Kotwali Dehat area, allegedly trying to escape to Nepal. They opened fire on police, who retaliated, injuring both before arresting them. The suspects later confessed.
A 14-second CCTV clip, reportedly from near the SP’s residence, showing the distressed victim, has become a key piece of evidence in the ongoing probe.