K’shetra Dalit girl’s gangrape: Family alleges police inaction

KARNAL : The gangrape and murder of a 15-year-old Dalit girl of Jhansa village in Kurukshetra district have raised questions about the delay in police action.

The victim’s family said a first information report was registered at the Jhansa police station on January 9, the day she went missing, but the police failed to act till her body was found near a canal at Budhakhera village of Jind’s Safidon town, 110 km from Kurukshetra, three days later.

Kurukshetra superintendent of police Abhishek Garg said the main accused has been identified and efforts are on to trace him.

Another police official requesting anonymity said that the accused is a Class 12 student and a neighbour of the victim. The girl’s family members also suspected his involvement. The official said that the accused and the victim studied in the same private school and used to talk over phone. The boy is also missing and his phone is switched off since January 9 .

Meanwhile, the SP said, six suspects have been detained and are being questioned.

The SP transferred Jhansa police station in-charge Ram Pal to the police lines and ordered a departmental inquiry.

Minister of state for social welfare and empowerment Krishan Kumar Bedi met the victim’s family members, who held a protest demanding a CBI probe and action against officials at the Jhansa police station. Bedi assured the family of financial assistance and a government job. He asked the police to depute two police personnel for the family’s security and said they will be given an arms licence.

revealed that the girl was raped by several individuals and suffered serious internal injuries after the criminals inserted a blunt object into her genitals.

“Internal injury is found, her liver was ruptured and apart from that wounds from sexual assault are seen in her private parts. They have been mutilated and ruptured, and it seems that more than one person was involved,” said Dr SK Dhattarwal, the head of forensic science department in Rohtak. “It seems a hard or blunt weapon was introduced,” he added.

The post-mortem also indicates that there were attempts to drown the victim. “To confirm that, we have sent the body for a diatom test,” he said.

VICTIM WANTED TO BE DOCTOR, SAY KIN Inhabitants of her native village knew her as a bright student who aspired to be a doctor and was determined to become one despite odds.

“She was a bright student. She wanted to become a doctor. Her uncle was also helping her to realise her aim. He was sure that she will become a doctor or some high-ranking officer,” the girl’s father told reporters.

A grievously hurt father now seeks nothing less than capital punishment for the culprits. “They should be hanged, they deserve that,” he said.