Gangrape case: Cops in touch with US woman, team in Nepal

New Delhi: The Delhi police has sent teams to Nepal, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to arrest the five absconding accused in connection with the alleged gangrape of an American woman at a five-star hotel in New Delhi in April.

The victim stayed in India over a week after her alleged gangrape in a hotel room. She even visited Agra and Jaipur along with the tour group before flying back to her home in US, said a senior police official. However, she does not remember the name of the tour operator. But she told that during the tour, everyone was referring to the tourist guide as “Mr Singh.” A senior police officer, on Monday, said that they have identified all of the accused in the case. The prime accused is a tourist guide, while the others include two staffers of the hotel, a cousin of the guide, and a driver.

The police has traced the tourist guide’s location in Gorakhpur but he managed to slip into Nepal.

“We have traced their locations. The guide is suspected to be in Nepal. Our teams are camping there, and we are hopeful that he will be arrested soon. We have contacted the accused driver, who is in Jaipur with a tour group. A police team has been sent to arrest him,” a police officer said.

A senior police official said that there is little chance of any evidence present at the spot where the alleged gang rape happened. “We are trying to get as much evidence as possible in the case. We are in regular touch with the victim,” added the police official.   

A police team may also go to the United States to meet and record the victim’s statement. The timing of the visit is yet to be finalised.

The victim, a 25-year-old resident of Pennsylvania, had alleged that the men made her consume a sedated drink and then took turns to rape her.

Soon after the incident, the woman left the country. She later approached the Delhi police with the help of an NGO.

The woman’s statement was mailed to the police on Saturday, after which an FIR was registered.