Woman repeatedly gangraped by six men, five arrested so far

BELAGAVI: A married woman was allegedly gangraped by six men at Gokak town on September 5. However, the issue has come to light only now.

The police have arrested five people so far in this connection. One of the accused tried to escape when the police were closing in on him and met with an accident. He has been admitted to a hospital while the police are on the lookout for the other accused.

Belagavi Superintendent of Police Bheemashankar Guled said, “One of the six people in the gang, who knew the woman and a man who was accompanying her, convinced them to visit his house for tea. He locked them in and brought his associates and they raped the woman by turns after threatening the man with a knife. They also relieved him of his ATM card and some cash, and later withdrew cash from his account. They also snatched gold earrings and cash from the woman”.

Belagavi Superintendent of Police Bheemashankar Guled.

“On September 29, the victim lodged a complaint. Four of the gang have been arrested in a dacoity case and the police were on the lookout for the other two. The main accused Ramesh Kilari escaped when the police were closing in on him. When the police gave chase, he met with an accident and the police team then admitted him to a hospital. One more accused is on the run and we will nab him soon”, he added.

The gang also threatened the woman not to report to the police and even threatened to make videos of her with her companion. So far, the police have arrested Ramesh Kilari of Benachimaradi village, Durgappa Vaddar, Yellappa Gissingavagol, Krishna Pujari and Ramasidda Tapsi. The man who lured the woman and her companion, Basavaraj Kilari, is on the run, the SP said.

The accused have cases registered against them in Gokak Town and Rural police station and Ankali police station. They used to commit dacoities in the name of Benachinamaradi gang and SP Circle gang and had even created a WhatsApp group to commit such crimes.