Five more may have been raped in Muzzafarpur shelter: Report
MUZAFFARPUR: A fresh medical report released by Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) to police authorities on Friday has not ruled out the possibility of rape of five more girls at the Muzaffarpur shelter home for minor girls.
On May 31, following an audit report by the Tata institute of Social Sciences (TISS), it emerged that 29 of the 44 girls at the shelter had been raped. The new report takes the total number of affected girls to 34.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Harpreet Kaur said the police received the medical report on Friday from PMCH. “I have reviewed the report. It has not ruled out the possibility of rape of the five girls,” she said, adding that 42 of the 44 girls had been medically examined since the scandal came to light.
“At least 34 girls have tested positive till now, while medical report has not confirmed rape of eight girls. Two girls were not taken before the medical board because they were mentally challenged,” the SSP said.
Meanwhile, the police is awaiting the forensic science laboratory (FSL) report. Deputy superintendent of police (City) Mukul Kumar Ranjan said the FSL report would buttress the case.
“We are focusing on scientific probe, which will nail the accused,” he said, adding that posters carrying picture of Dilip Kumar Verma, the fugitive chairperson of the district Child Welfare Committee have been circulated.
Verma was given the responsibility of weekly inspections at the shelter home, but inmates said he also used to assault the girls.
Inspector general of Tirhut zone, Sunil Kumar, has sought reports on all those officials who routinely inspected the shelter.