An autorickshaw driver and his four friends have allegedly raped his maternal aunt near the railways station here and left her at the government general hospital later.
According to sources, the 35 year-old widow from Nandikotkur mandal visited the hospital on Thursday night to see a relative. On learning of her visit, Ramesh (22), an autorickshaw driver and resident of Budhavarapupet in the town, went to the hospital and took her out in his auto under the pretext of having dinner together. Instead of going towards his home or a hotel, he steered his vehicle towards a dark and deserted place near the railway station. His auto was followed by four of his friends as per a pre-conceived plan. The five youths allegedly raped the woman and one of them dropped her back at the hospital on a motorcycle after the heinous act.
On Friday morning she narrated the incident to her relatives some of whom tried to hush up the incident. But some others approached the police late in the evening and lodged a complaint.
Three Town police circle inspector Srinivasa Murthy told the media on Saturday that they arrested Ramesh and were searching for his accomplices. Cases were registered against the rapists, he said and disclosed that Ramesh was already an accused in cases of chain- snatching, robbery and rape, and came out on bail recently.