Police arrest 3 youths for allegedly raping class 12 student in Himachal Pradesh

Three youth were arrested from Bhatinda, Punjab for allegedly raping a class 12 student for over three days (June 17 -20) in Manali town of Himachal Pradesh, police said on June 27. 

Two other accused in the case are still on the run.

Police said they had received a complaint about two Class 12 girls going missing on June 17. 

“The girls were found on June 20. Initially, they did not allege any sexual assault but during questioning, one of them claimed she was raped by three youths from Punjab, and two locals thereafter. The incident took place between June 17 and June 20,” Shalini Agnihotri, Superintendent of Police Kullu, said.

FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and the POCSO Act. “The three arrested youths have been remanded to police custody by a local court”, Agnihotri added.

As per law, it is rape even if consensual physical relations were made as the girl is a minor,” officer said.