Bulandshahr gang rape: Main accused, two others held

After nearly a week-long chase, the state police arrested the main accused in the Bulandshahr gangrape case and the kingpin of the notorious Bawaria gang, on Monday night. Salim Bawaria, who was on the run since the horrific gang-rape of a Noida-based woman and her teenage daughter, was arrested by the STF. “We have, by now, arrested six accused in the case. However, a person called Fati is still absconding,” disclosed Inspector General of Police (Meerut Zone) Sujit Pandey.

The arrested were identified as the mastermind Saleem and his two close aides Pervej and Sajid from Meerut on Monday. A large number of arms, including several country-made pistols, and jewellery belonging to the victims were seized from them, the IG said. 

Earlier, police had formed 18 teams which were sent to 28 locations to nab the culprits. After the crime, the gang members had split up and fled to different locations. Two of them even fled to Bihar and Jharkhand, the IG said. The IG added that  the victims have identified all the accused arrested in the case. Though not giving full details regarding Salim Bawaria’s arrest, Pandey said that Salim’s exact location was traced through his mobile phone.