The Quint, on 29 September, had visited Rewari to meet with the family of the 19-year-old woman who was gang raped on 12 September. The three key accused in her case – Nishu, Manish and Pankaj – have since been arrested.
The Quint, during its investigation in the village, met with a second woman who alleged sexual assault by Nishu. After The Quint published her account and tipped off Haryana Police about the incident, it has been learnt that an FIR for attempt to rape has been filed against Nishu.
What The Quint Had Reported in Rewari
At the time of The Quint’s visit to her village, this correspondent had learnt – through conversations with multiple women in the neighbourhood – that another woman was similarly assaulted by Nishu about a year ago, but her complaint had been quashed.
The Quint tracked down the woman in question and spoke to her about the alleged assault. The woman – a mother of four – told The Quint that Nishu had come at her, fully naked, while she was in the cotton fields and grabbed her from behind.
“He was completely naked and I could see his underwear hanging on a tree. He grabbed both my hands from behind me and started to grab me in a chokehold. I screamed and the five women who’d accompanied me, came running from the other end of the fields. Nishu panicked and ran away.”Alleged Survivor to The Quint
Her full account to The Quint can be read here.
While the incident had happened a year ago, justice had eluded the alleged survivor when she’d turned to the local Nahar Police Station. The woman told The Quint that a policewoman called Reshma had, at the time, referred the matter to the village panchayat.
“But the menfolk reached a decision amongst themselves. That is all I ever heard of the matter. My case never reached the courts and no action was ever taken against Nishu.”
The alleged survivor also told this correspondent that she would willingly file an FIR in the case, even a year later – and with her emphatic consent, The Quint escalated the matter.
How the Police Reacted to Our Report
This correspondent spoke to Nazneen Bhasin, head of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which had been formed to bring the perpetrators of the Rewari gang rape to book. Bhasin subsequently referred the matter to Rewari SP Rahul Sharma and Kosli DSP Anil Kumar (the alleged survivor’s village is under the jurisdiction of Kosli tehsil).
Kumar confirmed to The Quint that his team would visit the woman and record her statement.
The Quint has now learned that an FIR has been filed against Nishu for attempt to rape in the same case.
Two policewomen visited the woman the very day that we received The Quint’s information. An FIR for attempt to rape and criminal intimidation has been brought against Nishu. The woman has also recorded her statement before a magistrate in court.DSP (Kosli) Anil Kumar to The Quint
The Quint also spoke to the woman’s son over the phone, from their village in Kosli, to confirm that aforementioned action has been taken.
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