Bihar: 2 Supaul sisters raped, women among 5 held

PATNA: Five persons, including two women, were arrested and sent to jail after production before a court on Saturday night for their alleged involvement in the rape of two sisters separately in a guesthouse in Supaul after alluring them to pay money for planting paddy.
Supaul Sadar SDPO Kumar Indra Prakash said Santosh Kumar, Ramanand Kumar, Maya Devi, Urmila Devi and one Rajendra Sharma of Pipra police station area of Supaul were arrested in the rape case with two girls, including a minor.
He said that Santosh allegedly raped the 14-year-old minor girl in one room and Ramanand raped her married elder sister, aged around 23 years, in another room. “Maya, Urmila and Rejendra, an e-rickshaw driver, stood guard outside,” he said.
Prasad said they were arrested from different locations in Pipra. “The incident took place on June 30. But the matter came to light on July 2 when someone informed the police about a panchayat meeting going on in the village for compensating the victims,” he said.
He said their mother lodged an FIR against Maya, Urmila and four others for her daughters’ rape. The SDPO said the investigation revealed that Maya and Urmila, who were neighbours of the victims, allured them to pay Rs6,000 for paddy plantation.
“Both sisters went with the two women, who instead took them to the guesthouse in a secluded place. Later, the accused made them board a bus and sent them home,” he said.
Prakash said when the matter surfaced, Maya and Urmila fled from the village. He said Urmila was the first one to be arrested. She helped police identify the hotel rooms from where forensic experts collected samples.
“All those involved in crime have been arrested. Police have strong evidences. We would try for speedy trial of the case for their conviction,” the SDPO added.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)