The three detained suspects for the gang rape and murder of two teenage girls in India last week have admitted to the crime, local authorities said on Sunday. The unidentified victims were cousins, aged 14 and 16, and were found hanging from a tree in Badaun district, Uttar Pradesh. The suspects were arrested on Friday. The incident brought anger to families and protests were held across the area.
Local police identified the suspects as Pappu Yadav, Awdesh Yadav, and Urvesh Yadav. The three alleged sex offenders are in their 20s, and are known to be cousins of the victims. Two police officers were also arrested after they failed to conduct an immediate investigation when the father of one of the victims reported the case of the missing teenagers on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, two more suspects on the Badaun rape-slay case are still on the loose. Nevertheless, police officer Atul Saxena told the media that the arrested suspects have reveal their identities, and sketches are now being prepared for their arrest. Once proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt, the suspects are likely to face death penalty, based on Indian laws.
Rape cases in India have been in the highlight of local media in the past years. On December 16, 2012, a 23-year-old unnamed female physiotherapy intern was a victim of gang rape in a private bus in New Delhi. The lady was with a male friend when the incident happened. Both of them were badly beaten. The male friend survived, but the rape victim died, thirteen days later.
Public protests were held across India and the case attracted attention from international media. Six suspects, including the bus driver, were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. Four of them were sentenced to death by hanging, one died during the trial, and a juvenile defendant was sentenced to three years imprisonment in a reform facility.
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