As the suspects allegedly attempted to escape, people gathered at the spot and thrashed the trio.RUDRAPUR: An irate crowd attacked three men accused of gang-rape and abduction after a police vehicle taking them to court came to a halt due to a mechanical failure on Kashipur Bypass in Udham Singh Nagar on Tuesday.As the suspects allegedly attempted to escape, people gathered at the spot and thrashed the trio. Some individuals also threw black ink at them. “These monsters deserve far worse,” said one onlooker. “We demand the strictest punishment under law,” another said.Police arrived with additional forces to remove the suspects from the crowd and put them into another vehicle to reach the courthouse.Gurbaj Singh, Joga Singh and Ravinder Singh were arrested after a police encounter in the Bigwara outpost area on Monday. During the operation, Gurbaj suffered a bullet injury to his leg and was subsequently provided medical treatment.Police said the three are accused of abducting a woman after stopping her two-wheeler at knifepoint on Saturday and gang raping her in a nearby forest.SSP Ajay Ganapati said, “The investigation is progressing strictly according to legal procedures, and all necessary measures are being implemented to maintain law and order.”