Police took into custody a teenaged boy on Saturday in connection with the rape of a 17-year-old girl who has alleged she was violated by five persons in a car.
The boy, is the son of a local leader of chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao's Telangana Rashtra Samithi party, ndtv.com reported. He is the second to be arrested in the case.
The accused were identified as Saduddin Malik, who was arrested on Friday, and Omer Khan. Three other accused are minors.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has sought an explanation from the Hyderabad police over the delay in the registration of an FIR in the case, PTI reported. The apex child rights body has also sought the registration of an FIR against a city pub for allowing entry to minors.
"The Commission has observed that since the incident allegedly/reportedly took place on 28.05.2022 (Saturday), the FIR in the said incident has been lodged on 31.05.2022, i.e. after three days of the incident. The delay in registering the FIR in the matter is a matter of concern. Reasons thereof may be furnished and action against the concerned errant official should also be taken and appraised to the Commission," the NCPCR said in a letter to the Hyderabad police on Friday.
The Commission also asked the police to ensure that the victim's identity is not revealed during the investigation.
The 17-year-old girl was who visited a pub here five days ago for a daytime party was allegedly gang-raped by five people, including three juveniles, police said. According to an NDTV report, the police have identified all five based on CCTV footage and the statement of the survivor.
The security footage which is viral on social media showed the girl standing with the suspected attackers outside the pub where she had met them. The boys had offered to drop her home. Instead, she was assaulted inside a parked car in the city. Her attackers took turns raping her while the others stood guard outside the car.
The issue has assumed political colour with the opposition BJP alleging the involvement of ruling TRS and AIMIM leaders and taking exception to an alleged delay in arresting the accused.
TRS working president and state minister K T Rama Rao expressed shock over the news of rape of the minor and urged Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and the police to take immediate and stern action in the matter.
"Outraged & shocked with the news of the rape of a minor in Hyderabad. Request HM @mahmoodalitrs Garu @TelanganaDGP Garu and @CPHydCity to take immediate & stern action. Please don't spare anyone involved irrespective of their statuses or affiliations," Rama Rao tweeted.
Responding to his tweet, Home Minister Ali said strict action would be taken against the offenders irrespective of their background."Sure @KTRTRS sir. It is a ghastly incident. Strong action will be taken against all the offenders, irrespective of their background. @TelanganaDGP & @CPHydCity have already been directed to make out efforts & arrest all the accused at the earliest & take strong action as per law," he tweeted.
