FIR filed in missing rape survivor’s case

KATIHAR: Sometime relief and disappointment come together. The father of a rape survivor, who has been missing since June 10, learnt this the hard way on Thursday.

After running around for more than 10 days, the father succeeded in registering a missing person’s case. Police in Katihar district registered an FIR after HT carried a report: ‘Rape victim goes missing;10 days on, Bihar police yet to register complaint’.

But the relief was short-lived. His daughter, allegedly raped by a police constable at Balram village of the district, had flunked the Class 10 examination of Bihar board, the results of which were announced on Thursday.

“The Class 10 exams were held soon after she was raped in February,” the victim’s father told HT. “She was a good student and if the unfortunate incident had not taken place she would have passed in first division,” he added.

“My daughter was under trauma and tremendous stress and was not in a proper frame of mind to take the examination.”

“But I am relieved that my complaint has been registered more than 10 days after my daughter went missing,” he said.

“The station house officer (SHO) was a changed man on Thursday. He called me to the police sation, offered me a chair and then registered the FIR,” the father said. He suspected that the accused constable could have kidnapped his daughter.

Police have also intensified the search for the girl. “Prima facie, it appears to be a matter of elopement. But we are not leaving anything to chance,” police said.