Swaminarayan sect priest held for rape in Gujarat
Surat: A priest associated with the Swaminarayan sect here in Gujarat was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman on two occasions under the pretext of offering money for her mother’s surgery, the police said. The accused Nikunj alias Karan Swarupdas Babubhai Savani (24) had allegedly raped the woman, a local resident, around a fortnight ago in a room adjacent to the Swaminarayan temple at Dabholi under Katargam police station and again on October 23, a police official said. “Nikunj alias Karan Swarupdas Babubhai Savani has been arrested for allegedly raping a 20-year-old woman twice and threatening her against disclosing the incident,” said Katargam police station inspector M I Pathan. He said the woman had approached Savani after learning from someone that he will help her with money for surgery of her ailing mother. “When she met him, he lured her with the promise of financial aid and raped her,” said Pathan. He said the accused did not give her the promised money. “The woman went to meet Savani again Tuesday (October 23) for money when he raped her again,” said the police inspector. The woman narrated the incident to her parents who approached the police and lodged an FIR against the priest, said Pathan. (PTI)
Man held for posing as police official, thrashing shop owner
New Delhi: A 36-year-old man was arrested for allegedly posing as a police officer and thrashing a shop owner, police said on Tuesday. The accused, Deepak Choudhary alias Deepak Maan, is a resident of Chattarpur Enclave. During investigation, it was found that he was a property dealer not a police official, they added. The incident came to light when Sagar Khera, a resident of Madangiri, filed a complaint that one person claiming to be a sub-inspector at Malviya Nagar police station came to his shop at around 8.45 pm on Sunday and started beating and abusing him without any reason, a senior police officer said. Sagar’s brother Apar Khera gave the alleged accused’s contact number to police and also provided the video footage of the incident, police said. Initially, Deepak did not respond to calls. On Tuesday, he was contacted and brought to the police station where the complainants were also present, he added. Sagar, Apar and their father identified Deepak. An FIR was registered against him following which he was arrested. (PTI)
Two brothers held for raping niece for last 10 years
Panaji (Goa): Two middle-aged brothers were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly raping their niece for the last ten years since the time she was a teenager, the police said. The accused duo, now in their 40s, had been raping the woman (now 23) since the time she was 13-year-old, said a Porvorim police station officer. The woman, who is a member of a joint family living in Verem village, decided to break her silence and approach police because the sexual abuse continued till recently, said Porvorim Police Inspector Paresh Naik. A case has been registered against the accused under sections 376 (Punishment for rape) and 355 (Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation), besides under Goa Children’as Act, he said. Further investigation is underway, the police officer added. (PTI)
Five people held for sexually assaulting and branding minor
Thanjavur(TN): Five people including a 16-year old boy were arrested for sexually assaulting and branding a minor girl near Thiruvaiyaru in the district, police said on Wednesday. The 14-year old girl, a school dropout was sexually assaulted by the boy from Kudithangi last week, police added. Meanwhile, M Kannan (29) and his brother M Mahendran (35) from a nearby village, accused the girl of stealing their mobile phone and tied her up to a tree and assaulted her, police said. Kannan also sexually harassed her, they added. The brothers along with S Sivakumar and Vidhya, a woman from the area, branded the girl with an iron rod, police said. The girl managed to escape and hid herself in a plantain grove. Later, she informed her father, who admitted the girl to Thiruvaiyaru government hospital. The girl’s father filed a complaint with the all-women police station in Thiruvaiyaru on Monday following which the five were arrested. (PTI)
Pilgrim dies enroute Mata Vaishno Devi shrine
Jammu: A 34-Year-old pilgrim died of cardiac arrest on his way to the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Wednesday. Surender Gole, a resident of North-West Delhi, collapsed near the shrine Tuesday, they said. He was rushed to a nearby dispensary where the doctor declared him brought dead, police said. (PTI)
Two militants killed in J&K
Srinagar: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a top commander, were killed in an encounter with security forces in Nowgam area of the city on Wednesday, police said. Acting on a tip off about presence of militants in Suthu Kothair locality of Nowgam, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the early hours, a police official said. He said the militants opened fire on security forces during the search operation, triggering a gunbattle in which two ultras were killed. The slain militants have been identified as Sabzar Ahmad Sofi, a PhD scholar who had joined the militant ranks, and Asif Ahmad, the official said. “The standard operating procedures were followed during the operation and there was no collateral damage during the encounter,” he added. The official said incriminating material besides arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. Clashes broke out between protestors and security forces soon after the encounter ended, he said, adding the law enforcing agencies were engaged in pitched battles with the stone pelters for most part of the day. Authorities snapped mobile Internet services in the city and shut educational institutions as a precautionary measure. (PTI)
Two girls drown in river
Bareilly (UP): Two young girls drowned in the River Ramganga while taking a dip on Wednesday, police said.
The locals hailing from Girdharpur village had gone to take a holy dip on the occasion of Sharad Poornima when four girls went towards the deeper side, police said. While two of them were rescued, Chaya (14) and Preeti (18) drowned, police said, adding their bodies were later recovered. (PTI)