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Three held over Patna molestation case

July 25, 2009 18:35 IST

Three persons were on Saturday arrested in connection with the alleged assault and stripping of a young woman by a group of people on the busy Exhibition Road in Patna on Thursday that sparked nation-wide outrage.

Police said the arrested persons were Ashok Kumar, owner of the hotel where the woman allegedly engaged in flesh trade stayed, and the hotel manager besides an alleged pimp. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Central Range) J S Gangwar informed that the arrests were made after a case was registered on the basis of the woman's statement under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act.

The 22-year-old woman had picked up a quarrel with suspected pimp Rakesh Kumar over sharing of money and had reportedly taken away Kumar's mobile demanding more money. When Kumar raised an alarm, a group of people gathered and beat her up and tore off her clothes, police said.

The hotel has been sealed and its licence cancelled for facilitating immoral trafficking, the DIG said, adding that the police are on the lookout for two others in this connection. He said the woman would be produced before the Bihar State Human Rights Commission to record her statement.

Gangwar said the medical examination of the woman, hailing from Judge Bagan area of Jasidih town in Jharkhand, and the alleged pimp has been conducted. Meanwhile, the All India Progressive Women's Association and the All India Democratic Women's Association strongly condemned the incident.

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