Arrest warrant against 22 accused of gang-rape during Muzaffarnagar riots

MUZAFFARNAGAR: A local court on Tuesday issued non-bailable warrant against 22 persons allegedly involved in five incidents of gang-rape during Muzaffarnagar riots.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Narender Kumar issued the arrest warrant against 22 accused, who are on the run, after Special Investigation Team ( SIT) probing the cases approached the court.

The SIT had approached the court seeking arrest warrants against the 22 accused for their alleged involvement in five of the six gang-rape incidents that had allegedly taken place during the riots in September last.

Investigation against five other persons allegedly involved in the another gang-rape case was going on, sources said.

SIT had identified 22 out of 27 accused allegedly invoved in the gang-rape cases but were at large.

The SIT petitioned for the arrest warrant after Supreme Court issued notice to the state government and the Centre recently on a writ petition filed by six victim women, who claimed that they were gang-raped in Phugana village during the communal riots.

Meanwhile, the National Minority Commission has expressed concern over the delay in arresting the accused.