AHMEDABAD: A security guard was arrested on Sunday for allegedly raping a woman tenant on the terrace of a housing society in Ahmedabad, just four days after joining duty.The incident has raised questions over the hiring agency’s procedures, with police alleging that it failed to carry out proper background verification of the accused, according to news agency PTI.The accused, identified as Dharam Singh, a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi district, allegedly choked the woman before sexually assaulting her on the terrace and then locking her there before fleeing the scene.Addressing a press conference, Joint Commissioner of Police (Sector-1) Neeraj Badgujar said the incident took place late on Saturday night when the woman went to the terrace of the residential building for a walk. CCTV footage from the society reportedly captured the guard heading towards the terrace using both the elevator and the staircase.“Singh had started working as a security guard in the society just four days ago,” Badgujar added.Police said the accused attempted to avoid arrest by switching off his mobile phone after the incident. A search operation involving 10 teams from the local police, crime branch and local crime branch was launched. After examining CCTV footage and tracking his movements, officers arrested Singh between 7 am and 8 am near the Hebatpur area.According to Badgujar, Singh had earlier worked as a security guard for several companies in Ahmedabad before taking up the latest assignment at the housing society located in the Anandnagar area.The officer said the security agency that employed Singh had, prima facie, failed to conduct background verification, provide mandatory training or collect essential details about him before deployment.“We will take strict action against the security agency as well,” Badgujar said.A case has been registered against Singh under the rape provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said a forensic science laboratory (FSL) team inspected the crime scene, while medical examinations of both the survivor and the accused are underway.Investigators are also carrying out DNA-related forensic examinations as part of the ongoing probe, Badgujar added.(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
