Patiala-based auto-rickshaw driver has been sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment for raping a 24-year-old US woman who had come to visit India. The decision was taken by the Fast Track Special Court Judge of Chandigarh. Along with imprisonment, accused has also got fined Rs. 41,000 as compensation. The other accused is still absconding.
Reportedly, a case was registered in November 2016 at Women’s Police Station Chandigarh by a foreign girl who accused an auto-rickshaw driver and his friends of raping her. Based on the medical report and statement of the victim FIR was lodged. As per information, the US girl was raped in Kharar by the accused at her house and was left near a bus stand after that. Post this incident, the victim went back to her country and got her medical tests done there.
As per the statement provided by the victim, she was trying to find a hotel and while she was seeking help for the same, a person requested the accused to find her a room. Post this, the accused arranged a house for her that belonged to his friend and at night raped her along with his friend. Us girl after returning to her country narrated the whole incident to the person from whom she sought help and who told the accused to find her a room. The victim gave a complaint to the Chandigarh Police through an e-mail in August 2015 and attached her medical reports along with it.
Later, the accused was arrested in the year 2017 from Ludhiana but his friend fled from there and is absconding till date. Reportedly, the US girl had come to India on a tourist Visa when this heinous incident happened to her.