RANCHI: Acting swiftly in Khunti gang rape case, State Police has arrested manager of RC Mission School Father Alfonso Aiend and two others -- Ajub Sandi Purti and Ashish Longa, allegedly 'Patthalgadi' supporters hailing from West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand.
Additional Director Genera (ADG) (Operations) and Jharkhand Police Spokesperson RK Mallick said that during the investigations, it became clear that the incident took place under a planned conspiracy in order to teach them a lesson for conducting their drive in 'Patthalgadi' area.
The Police Spokesperson also disclosed that a total of six persons were involved in the gang rape and all of them have been identified. "All the six persons raped with the five girls and also made a video of the entire incident while other male members of the team were asked to remain the vehicle. After raping the girls, they asked male members to urinate in their hands and also made them to drink as a punishment for creating awareness in 'Patthalgadi' areas," said Mallick.
All of them have been identified and a hunt was on to arrest them, he added. "Meanwhile two 'Patthalgadi' supporters have been arrested who have admitted their crime and have been forwarded to Judicial custody after completing all formalities," said the Police Spokesperson.
Referring to the role of Father Alfonso Aiend in the case, the Police Spokesperson said that his conduct was also suspicious as he prevented the two nuns from being taken away with the team, but when these women pleaded before him, he told them that nothing will happen and they will left very soon after some time.
"Khunti Police on the basis of evidences collected during the investigation has also arrested Father Alfonso as he was trying to manage the incident in spite of complaining the matter to Police," said the ADG.
During investigations, it was also revealed that the matter was related to 'Patthalgadi' movement and a person named John Jonas Tidu provoked 'Patthalgadi' or People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) supporters after collecting them in the nearby jungles to teach these anti-trafficking activists a lesson for creating awareness in their area, he added.
Five anti-trafficking activists were gang raped on Tuesday at Kochang village under Arki Police Station in Khunti after being picked up from RC Mission School while they were staging a 'nukkar natak' at allegedly by Patthalgadisupporters on Tuesday at Kochang under Arki Police Station in Khunti.
Taking a strong note of the incident, National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu cognizance into the matter and sought a detailed report from DGP DK Pandey and formed a team to look into the matter after visiting Kochang village.