Two arrested for gang-raping woman in Bengaluru park

Two security guards were arrested on Thursday on charges of gang-raping a 30-year-old woman at the Cubbon Park here on Wednesday night, police said.

The accused were taken into custody on a complaint filed by the woman at the local police station on Thursday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil told reporters.

According to the police complaint, the woman came from Tumakuru, about 70 km from here, in a state-run bus to the city and entered the park to visit the Karnataka State lawn Tennis Association (KSlTA) on Wednesday to enquire about a training course.

"As no official was present at the association's office due to Diwali, a watchman told the woman to come on Thursday for information on training. She, however, chose to stay back outside the tennis arena, located within the park," Patil said, citing the police complaint.

When the accused guards, aged 28 and 30, who were patrolling in the park on night duty, asked why she was there at that odd hour (around 10 p.m.), the woman told them that she had lost her way and could not find the exit gates of the 300-acre park.

"On the pretext of escorting the woman to the park gate, the accused took her into a bush and allegedly raped her in turns amid darkness," Patil said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused duo, who hail from Assam, were hired by private-run security agency Pavan six months ago and the state horticulture department engaged them for duty in the sprawling park.

"We have sent the woman to a state-run hospital for medical test and to verify her accusation of gang rape," Patil said.

Police also summoned the owner of the security agency to inquire if it had done background checks, as the two were from outside the state and came to the city early this year.