Husband facilitates wife's gang rape in Bengal, absconding

Howrah (West Bengal), March 23 (IANS) Two men have been sent to police custody by a local court in West Bengal's Howrah for allegedly raping a newly-married woman in connivance with her own husband who is absconding, police said Friday.

'Kartik Das and Raju Prasad were sent to custody by the court for their involvement in gang-raping a 19-year-old married woman. Her husband, who is suspected to have facilitated the crime, is absconding,' Howrah Deputy Commissioner of Police Sukesh Jain said.

The woman had married Bappa Ruidas a week before the incident. Das and Prasad, both friends of the husband, came to meet the couple Wednesday night. After a few minutes, Bappa left the house while the duo forced themselves on the victim, said an officer of Bally police station in the district.

The woman was initially reluctant to report the matter to the police, but finally lodged a complaint Thursday afternoon following which the two were arrested from the area late at night.

Bappa has been named as an accused in the FIR and the police are looking for him, added the officer.