Smitten youth behind bride's abduction arrested

VADODARA: Dahod police have arrested Shailesh Mandor, the prime accused in the robbery, abduction and rape case involving a newly married bride. The accused masterminded the crime as he was in one-sided love with the girl and carried out the act with the help of relatives and a notorious robbery gang.
The incident had taken place in the early hours on Saturday after the bride and bridegroom were returning with their relatives to Garbada from Fatehpura after the wedding.They were waylaid by a group that came in a light commercial vehicle that robbed them and took away the girl who was kept at various locations in Madhya Pradesh (MP) and was allegedly raped.
Shailesh was nabbed from Bhagora village in Jhabua district in MP on Monday evening. He was handed over to Dahod police in the night. Dahod police claimed that Shailesh was madly in love with the girl and hence hatched the conspiracy.
"Prima facie this seems to be the reason for the crime. The accused was in one-sided love with the girl," said Dahod superintendent of police Mayanksinh Chawda. But Shailesh has been claiming that he and the girl were in love with each other.
After preliminary interrogation of Shailesh, the police have identified the other accused involved in the crime. The accused include Kala Gundiya, Hemchand Bhabhor, Suresh Meda and Ishwar Meda - all members of a robbery gang. Shailesh's relatives Navalsinh Mandor and Mahesh Mandor were also involved in the crime.
Two persons had kept an eye on the wedding and were giving details over the phone to the other accused. The duo even followed the marriage party when it left Fatehpura. At an opportune moment, they asked the others to strike. Sources said the arrangement between the robbery gang and Shailesh was that while the booty would go to the gang, the girl would be handed over to him.
But what has raised questions is the fact that the girl was seen with the youths on a motorcycle in MP and even captured in a CCTV. She also went to a footwear shop with them. She has not been able to speak in detail to the police as she is suffering from post-trauma stress disorder.