Vadodara gang rape: Five accused remanded to police custody for two days
Updated: Oct 9th, 2024
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| Vadodara gangrape accused |
Five men accused of gang-raping a 16-year-old girl in Vadodara’s Bhayli area on October 4 have been remanded to police custody for two days by a special POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court.
They were presented in court on October 8, following their arrest within 48 hours of the incident.
The identification parade, or police lineup, to identify the five accused — Saif Ali Banjara (21), Ajmal Banjara (22), Munna Banjara (27), Mumtaz Banjara (36), Shahrukh Banjara (26) — lasted an hour parade, officials said.
The police sought a 14-day remand, citing 13 points for further investigation, but the court granted custody until 3 pm on October 10.
Key aspects of the ongoing investigation include:
- Seizure of clothes worn by the accused during the crime
- Recovery of the victim’s mobile phone and the bike used in the crime
- Collection of medical samples from the accused
- Background checks on the accused, who are from Uttar Pradesh
- Investigation into possible premeditation and potential involvement of others
- Examination of the accused’s meeting place before the crime
- Inquiry into possible alcohol consumption by the accused
- Identification of the owner of spectacles found at the crime scene
The incident occurred on October 4, during the Navratri festival, when the victim was out with a friend in a deserted area near Bhayli. The attackers allegedly overpowered the minor victim’s friend and took turns raping her. They also stole her mobile phone, which was last traced near Atladara.
The Vadodara Crime Branch, assisted by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, conducted a massive manhunt involving over 200 police officers. The investigation included analysing more than 1,100 CCTV footage clips spanning 45km and searching over 1,000 houses within a 3km radius of the incident site.
This case has shocked the community, with citizens expressing their anger by slapping the accused as they were brought to court.
Meanwhile, in the courtroom, one accused shouted: “Sir, send us to jail”.
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