Expedite rape case probe: HC to cops

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 17

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday directed the police to expedite the investigation in the alleged rape case of the three-year-old girl in north Kashmir.

A division bench of the court, comprising Chief Justice Gitta Mital and Justice Tashi Rabstan, granted time till May 28 to the police to complete the probe.

“Let the police do a prompt investigation and file compliance report on the next date of hearing (May 28),” the division bench said.

The court also directed the State Legal Service Authority (SLAC) to take up the case of compensation for the victim.

The health and medical education department also filed its report before the court, saying it had provided proper medical treatment and counselling to the victim.

The court also directed the police to file cases against mediapersons who had violated the provisions of Section 23 of the J&K Protection of Child from Sexual Violence Ordinance, 2018.

The high court had taken suo motu cognisance of the alleged rape and asked the police to conduct an effective investigation in the case. The court, which has taken a serious note of the reports appearing in a section of the media disclosing the identity of the minor victim, directed the Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir, to provide protection to the victim and her family.

The alleged rape incident has led to widespread anger across the Valley, with north Kashmir witnessing violent protests since it surfaced on May 8. The J&K Police have already formed an SIT and arrested the accused.

The IGP Kashmir filed a status report of investigation suggesting that the age determination of the accused was also under way.

The court also directed Member Secretary, J&K State Legal Services Authority, to submit an action plan and proper guidelines to ensure linkage between the police stations and the offices of the Legal Services Authority.

The court said the Legal Services Authority shall ensure legal aid to a victim right from the beginning ie from the stage of the lodging of the complaint and the registration of the case, medical examination, recording of the statement throughout the trial till the end of the case.

The Legal Services Authority shall ensure that proper medical treatment was also administered to the victim, the court said.

The court said there should be release of compensation under the Victim of Compensation Scheme at the earliest, preferably within 24 hours of an incident of sexual violence being reported.

“A proper protocol in this regard shall be placed before this court within 10 days from today,” the court said.

The counsel of the SLSA filed an application, seeking the extension of time to submit the report.

Plaint filed at Sumbal police station

• May 8 Girl’s family files rape complaint at Sumbal police station
• May 8 The police file an FIR under Sections 363, 342 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code
• May 9 Reports of the rape surface in the media
• May 10 Protests erupt across the Kashmir valley