Aarey gang-rape: two suspects handed over to local police

The city crime branch on Thursday handed over two of the four suspects in the Aarey Colony gang-rape case to the Aarey sub-police station for further investigations. The two persons were detained for their alleged involvement in the case. The other two are still at large.

According to police sources, the suspects who were handed over to the local police have been identified as Velapandi Marianna Harijan and Jaisraj Devendra. "Harijan and Devendra have admitted to having committed the crime with their two accomplices," said a crime branch source, requesting anonymity.

Harijan, the source said, is the main accused. He is the 26-year-old son of the landlord of the place where the woman resides.

He added that mobile phone location of two suspects showed that they were at the crime scene on the day of the incident. Apart from that, the 21-year-old victim in her statement to the police had named them. Once the local police arrest them, they will be produced before the court for remand.

Police sources added that the detained suspects are being interrogated about their accomplices who are at large.

According to the complainant, the accused had initially offered her money for sexual favours. But when she refused, they gang-raped her. The victim said she and her husband were threatened with weapons by the accused. She had named Harijan, her landlord's son, as the main accused.