Ahmedabad police arrested a security guard, Dharam Singh, after an intensive search lasting nearly eight hours following the rape of a 23-year-old woman at a rented flat in Jodhpur village on Saturday night.
The accused was traced with the help of CCTV footage, which showed him wearing a distinctive safari suit. Police formed more than 10 teams and searched several locations before finally arresting him in Hebatpur.
The case took another turn on Sunday evening when police said the accused tried to snatch a police officer’s service pistol during a recovery operation. A scuffle followed, during which a shot hit a police constable in the chest and another bullet struck the accused in the leg. Both were taken to hospital and were reported to be stable.
Woman Attacked on Society Terrace
According to the police investigation, the woman, an interior design student, went to the terrace of her rented accommodation at around 9 pm to use her mobile phone.
Dharam Singh, who was working as a security guard at the society, approached her and made an obscene demand.
When she resisted and attempted to leave, he put a wire around her neck, strangled her and sexually assaulted her. The ordeal reportedly continued for around 80 minutes.
Police allege that the accused then took the woman’s mobile phone, locked the terrace from outside and fled from the area at around 10:20 pm.
Residents Heard Her Cries
Residents heard the woman’s cries and alerted the police. A 112 emergency response team reached the location at around 11:15 pm, followed by Anandnagar police and senior officers.
The woman was taken to hospital, where a medical examination was conducted. Police also carried out DNA sampling as part of the investigation.
CCTV Footage Became Key Evidence
The investigation gained momentum after police examined CCTV footage from the society and surrounding areas.
The footage showed the accused leaving the society at around 10:27 pm and heading towards Iscon through an internal road. His mobile phone was later found switched off near Ambli Road.
Investigators connected footage from multiple cameras to reconstruct his movements after the alleged crime.
The accused’s clothing became an important clue. Police circulated his photograph among different teams and informers and specifically asked them to look for a man wearing the safari suit seen in the CCTV footage.
Police Teams Deployed at Railway Stations
Since Dharam Singh is from Uttar Pradesh, police suspected that he might try to leave Ahmedabad by train.
Teams were therefore deployed at Chandlodiya, Sabarmati and Kalupur railway stations to prevent him from escaping. However, he did not appear at the stations.
Police continued searching the area and eventually traced him to Hebatpur, where he was arrested after nearly eight hours of investigation and searching.
Accused Tried to Snatch Police Pistol
The case took another turn on Sunday evening when police took Dharam Singh to Hebatpur to recover the woman’s mobile phone and conduct a discovery panchnama.
During the process, police said the accused tried to snatch the service pistol of PI S. Parmar. A scuffle broke out during the attempt.
According to police, a round was fired and struck constable Virendrasinh in the chest. A second round hit Dharam Singh in the leg as officers tried to overpower him.
Both the accused and the constable were taken to Sola Civil Hospital for treatment. The constable was later shifted to Zydus Hospital. Both were reported to be in stable condition.
Separate Case Filed Over Alleged Attack on Police
Following the incident, Bodakdev police registered another case against Dharam Singh for allegedly attacking a government employee and obstructing lawful custody.
He is expected to be produced before a court after he is discharged from hospital.
The investigation into the alleged sexual assault and the circumstances surrounding the police shooting is continuing.
No Previous Criminal Record
Police said Dharam Singh had no previous criminal record. He had worked as a security guard for around four years and had joined Avon Security Agency only four days before the incident.
Police have also started the process of seeking cancellation of the security agency’s licence, citing alleged violations in the recruitment and employment of the accused. The agency’s employee records and verification compliance are being reviewed.
However, no separate criminal case has so far been registered against the security agency.
The investigation will now focus on the evidence collected from CCTV footage, the medical examination, DNA samples, the alleged assault and the circumstances surrounding the firearm incident.
Also Read: Ahmedabad PG Horror: Design Student Attacked, Raped By Security Guard https://www.vibesofindia.com/ahmedabad-design-student-raped-security-guard-arrested/
