Cops, activists raise doubts on rape and kidnapping story
LUCKNOW: Even as the alleged rape of a 17-year-old schoolgirl - who was purportedly kidnapped by a group of unknown youngsters, from Nishatganj, on Thursday afternoon - has triggered a heated debate on social media about women’s security, cops and women activists cautioned that people should not jump to any conclusions without knowing the complete truth of the matter.
Doubts regarding the incident, as narrated by the girl, started cropping up after her medical report findings did not reveal any external or internal injuries to private parts. “External or internal injury on private parts are primary signs of sexual assault or rape but in this case the medical examination did not show any such injuries. Also, the doctors have confirmed the girl to be above 18 years of age, after medical examination,” said Rajesh Srivastava, circle officer (CO), Mahanagar.
He also added that the doctors have recommended some more advanced tests to reach a final conclusion on the reason behind excessive bleeding from the girl’s private parts. Regarding her version of events, the CO expressed doubt and informed that so far the cops have not found any evidence or witnesses to corroborate the girl’s story.
“We are not going to get influenced by comments on social sites or anybody’s perception. The investigators are going to put the medical examination findings before the court and let the judiciary decide the genuineness of the story,” said Srivastava.
Women activists too, who have closely observed the case, allege that it is not a case of rape and kidnapping but something else. Prominent activist, Roop Rekha Verma, is of the opinion that it is not a case of kidnapping and rape, and that the girl and her family are hiding facts. Verma said that soon after hearing of the incident, she and her team from the NGO, Saajhi Duniya visited the hospital to probe the matter but found that there were several doubts and contradictions in the entire sequence of events.
“It is hard to believe that the girl was kidnapped by a group of youngsters, in a four-wheeler, from a crowded place like Nishatganj, without anyone noticing. It is even more unconvincing that after committing the crime, the assailants came back to drop the girl near her house,” she said.
The girl and her family members had alleged that a group of youngsters, including some girls, had kidnapped her in a fourwheeler from near her school in Nishatganj, at around 1 pm, on Thursday.
She had also stated that she remained in their captivity for two hours and was dropped back near her house, on Lucknow University road, after being raped at an unknown place. The girl is a Class 8 student of a school in Nishatganj and her father is a contractor.