Mysuru: The Mysuru police probing the alleged gang-rape of a college student have cracked the case with the arrests of five labourers hailing from Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. "The five accused who were arrested in the case are daily wage labourers from Tamil Nadu," said DG-IGP Praveen Sood.
Speaking at a press conference in Mysore, Praveen Sood said, "the accused are from Tirupur in Tamil Nadu and are doing jobs like wiring, carpentry and driving and frequented Mysuru often. One among them is a minor but his age is yet to be confirmed. We have arrested five of them and one accused is still at large."
"We can't say this was a pre-planned act. The preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused demanded Rs. 3 lakh from the victim and her friend. When they refused to give the amount, the accused raped the young woman and assaulted her friend," said the officer.
Read: Mysuru gang-rape case : Police record statement of victim's friend
According to sources, the police zeroed in on the accused on the basis of the statement of the victim's friend and technical evidence gathered against them. Sources say police have sent photos of the accused to the victim and her friend via WhatsApp for verification. The girl got discharged from the hospital on Friday while her friend is still receiving treatment.
Speaking to reporters Saturday morning, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai had exuded confidence that the police would crack the case as early as possible and apprehend the culprits. "Police have taken the Mysuru case very seriously. I am confident that the police will succeed in cracking the case as early as possible," Bommai said. Karnataka DG & IGP Praveen Sood is overseeing the investigation into the gang-rape which is being investigated by five police teams.
Read: 'Follow Hyderabad style punishment in Mysuru gang-rape case'
The victim, a college student, was gang-raped near Chamundi hills on the outskirts of Mysuru on August 24. The culprits assaulted her male friend who was with her. The investigation revealed the gang members demanded Rs three lakh from them.
