Verka for speedy probe in minor’s rape

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 30

Taking a serious note of the “negligent” attitude of the Amritsar rural police in connection with the rape of a minor girl in Jandiala, Amritsar MLA and former vice-chairman of the National SC Commission, Raj Kumar Verka, today directed the police to add the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act and Prevention of Atrocities to ST/ST Act, besides recording victim’s statement under Section 164 of the Crpc. He has sought the arrest of the accused immediately.

Earlier, the police had registered a case under Section 376 besides other relevant sections of IPC. However, the police failed to arrest anyone.

Upset over the police “inaction”, the victim’s family today met Raj Kumar Verka, seeking his intervention. They alleged that on April 15, the victim was going to her school when she was waylaid by a boy, who was known to her. She told her family that the accused offered her tea laced with some intoxicant. Thereafter she fell unconscious. When she regained consciousness, she found herself in a hotel room surrounded by seven youngsters. She alleged that they injected her with drugs and took turns to rape her. According to her, she was kept in “illegal” detention and was sexually assaulted repeatedly. Later, they dumped her at a secluded place on April 25. She is currently recuperating at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

The family members alleged that initially the police was dithering about registration of the case. However, when the family members and residents protested and blocked a road in Jandiala, the police registered a case and got the victim medically examined.

Verka asked the Jandiala SHO to arrest the suspects without delay. He said the police had not added sections of the POCSO Act which was mandatory as the girl was minor. Further, the victim belonged to a Dalit family, therefore the police was asked to add sections of Prevention of Atrocities to SC/ST Act in the FIR.