Rape accused cons cops, flees in VVIP chopper

Srinagar (Agencies): In a shocking incident of carelessness, the Jammu & Kashmir police let a rape accused, who was impersonating as an accident survivor, flee in a VVIP helicopter that is meant to ferry leaders including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The police even gave him Rs 5,000 as compensation. The incident took place in Manjakot district in Rajouri where a man named Mohammad Pervez allegedly raped a girl in jungle. On a complaint by the girl on March 8, the police launched a manhunt for the rapist. "Parvez had received several scratches while attempting rape on the woman-- there were lots of scratches on his face-- he fled from the spot and got himself admitted in the district hospital at Rajouri," DIG Rajouri-Poonch range, Danish Rana said. In the meantime, a mini-bus accident occurred in Mandir Gala area in which 15 people died. The administration was busy in the rescue work. The accused got mingled with the injured and began posing as a survivor. The state chopper was requisitioned by the district administration to shift people who had sustained serious in a road accident at Manoorgala in Kandi area on Friday to the Government Medical College Hospital at Jammu. Pervez acted as if his health was deteriorating and cried to be taken to Jammu for treatment. The policemen let him travel to Jammu in a VVIP chopper that ferries prominent people of the state. As he reached Jammu, while the victims were being taken to hospital, he disappeared and later returned to Manjakote where he was arrested, DIG Rajouri-Poonch range, Danish Rana said, adding the money was recovered from him. No officer is ready to speak on the matter. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been apprised of the development. He has ordered a high-level inquiry into the matter. What's more astonishing is that the accused also managed to get Rs 5000 compensation by posing as an accident victim. The police say doctors are to blame for the embarrassing lapse because they had certified him as a victim of the bus accident. A case of attempt to rape has already been registered, Rana said. The SSP of Rajouri, Mubassir Latiffi, said Parvez would also be booked for cheating, impersonation and other charges.