The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday severely criticised the State Government for being ‘shamefully apathetic’ to women while asking it to immediately transfer the Tigiria minor girl gang-rape case to a special investigation team (SIT) and submit action-taken report (ATR) within 10 days.
Coming down heavily on the gang-rape case, the NCW observed in its report, “How many instances we have in the history of Independent India when six men gang-rape a minor girl consecutively for three days and are out on bail. And due to laxity in investigation, the victim had to sit on dharna after undergoing such a horrific ordeal and threaten self-immolation against the shameful apathy of the State Government.”
Basing on the investigation report by its two-day inquiry committee, the NCW has asked the State Government to implement nine recommendations made by it.
While recommending transfer of the case to a SIT, the NCW slammed the government for giving the investigation charge to the local police. “As per the Supreme Court guideline, a rape investigation should be conducted by expert women police officer under an ACP-rank officer with active participation of a forensic expert. But the State Government has thrown it to wind by giving the charge to an IIC-level police officer. Hence, it is directed to immediately constitute a SIT comprising at least one expert lady officer and headed by an officer Deputy Commissioner level officer.”
Similarly, the commission asked the State Government to provide security to the victim and her family members within 24 hour as the culprits are out on bail and to provide an interim relief Rs 5 lakh to the victim. Other recommendations are: rehabilitation of the victim through suitable employment, immediate formulation of a compensation policy for rape victims, immediate formulation of a protocol regarding investigation into rape cases based on JS Verma Committee report, appointment of a special public prosecutor, ATR within 10 days and laying of its report in the State Assembly.
The two-member inquiry committee consisting of Manasi Pradhan and Hemlata Kheria during its two-day visit on November 15 and 16 to the State had recorded the statements of the victim, her parents and other witnesses at Bindhanima apart from reviewing the progress in police investigation at Tigiria.