Two minor sisters gang raped at gunpoint

Eleven months after two minor cousins were allegedly gang raped and their bodies were found hanging from a mango tree in Badaun in May last year, two minor cousins aged 12 and 13 were kidnapped and gang raped at gunpoint by five men at a village on Tuesday night, reports The Times of India.

Like the infamous gang rape and murder case of Katra Shahadatganj village last year, the two cousins had also gone to relieve themselves when the incident occurred at Madarpur village.

All the five accused were caught by the villagers and brought to Jarifnagar police station where they were booked under section 376 (rape) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act.

Provisions of the Arms Act were also slapped after two country-made pistols were recovered from them.

"All the five accused were known to the sisters and their family members as they reside in neighbouring village," said a senior police official.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Badaun, Saumitra Yadav said, "The preliminary medical report of the girls revealed that no mark of injury was found in any part of the girls' bodies, including private parts and internal organs.

There is a possibility that girls would not have been raped. However, it will be clear only after we get a final report of medical examination."

Yadav added, "Though the family has named five persons in FIR for gang-rape, one sister has alleged that she was raped by one men and the other has accused only two men of raping her.

Both the sisters have given same statements to police and doctors, who were conducting the medical examination. However, the statement given by girls in front of magistrate will be considered."

The incident bears striking similarity with the Badaun gang rape case, which hit national headlines in May last year.

Station officer Ganga Singh, who is now with Jarifnagar police where the incident occurred on Tuesday night, was then posted at Ushait police station where the FIR was lodged in May last year.

The investigation in the previous case took a strange turn when the CBI termed it as suicide and submitted a closure report.

The relatives of the gang raped and murdered cousins then appealed in a higher court where the matter is sub-judice.