Dehradun: Teenager grabbed at ISBT and physically assaulted, drivers among 5 arrested
PTC News Desk: On Sunday, Uttarakhand Police arrested five individuals for their alleged involvement in the gang-rape of a teenage girl aboard a government bus at the Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT) in Dehradun. The incident, which occurred on August 12, was reported to the authorities on Saturday, according to news agency PTI.
Dehradun's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ajay Singh, confirmed that in addition to the five arrested suspects, two other bus drivers and a cashier working at the Dehradun ISBT were also taken into custody. The suspects include:
Dharmendra Kumar was identified as the driver of the bus involved in the incident, while Devendra was the conductor. Ravi Kumar and Rajpal are drivers of other buses at the terminal, and Rajesh Kumar Sonkar serves as a cashier for Uttarakhand Roadways at the bus stand.
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The police report states that the Dehradun Child Welfare Committee (CWC) was alerted to the presence of a teenage girl sitting alone late at night at the ISBT on August 12. The girl was subsequently taken to Bal Niketan, a government girls' home. During counseling there, she disclosed the details of the alleged rape, prompting the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) at Patel Nagar police station. The FIR was registered under Section 70(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Following the report, police conducted a thorough investigation, using CCTV footage to identify the bus involved and apprehend the suspects.
During questioning, the girl initially claimed to be from Punjab and an orphan. However, she later revealed that she was actually from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. She explained that she had traveled to Delhi and then took a bus to Dehradun, where she was allegedly assaulted.
According to Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh, Devendra admitted to having seen the girl at the Kashmiri Gate ISBT in Delhi. She had inquired about how to reach Punjab, and Devendra suggested she take a bus to Dehradun and transfer to another bus heading to Punjab. Once the bus reached Dehradun and all other passengers disembarked, Devendra and driver Dharmendra Kumar allegedly assaulted her. Devendra reported that two other drivers, Ravi and Rajpal, who were parked nearby, also boarded the bus and raped the girl. Devendra subsequently informed the cashier, Rajesh Kumar Sonkar, who also allegedly participated in the assault.
The case has sparked outrage and drawn significant attention, highlighting severe concerns about safety and security at public transportation hubs.
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- With inputs from agencies
