A third incident of rape was reported in Haridwar district in about a month. A teenager was raped by a Bijnor (UP) native Amit alias Sonu in the bushes near Raja Biscuit Chowk under Ranipur police station area on Monday evening. The accused, yet to be arrested, was living in a rented accomodation in the area.
Taking serious cognisance of the case, Uttarakhand DGP BS Sidhu has formed a team headed by State Women Security Cell in-charge Mamta Vohra and deployed it in Haridwar to investigate this case. Sidhu expressed disappointment at increasing crimes against women in Haridwar district and said that action will be taken against police officers found negligent.
On February 4 this year, a 19-year-old female was gang raped in the bushes near Tehri rehabilitation area by a labour contractor and his friend who had assured her job in a private company. Two rapes occurred in the Ranipur Police Station area within a week.
Ranipur Police Station in-charge MC Joshi said that in his written complaint on Tuesday, victim’s father said that his 17-year-old daughter was allegedly raped by Amit in the bushes near Raja Biscuit Chowk on Monday evening. An FIR was lodged under sections 376 and 506 of the IPC and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act in the police station. A team was formed and deployed at various places to nab the accused.
Critics point out that three rape cases within a month have exposed police claims of providing security to women of the district. It should be mentioned here that the DGP had said on January 13 that if Haridwar police failed to arrest the culprits of gang-rape cum murder case in Pathri Police Station area within a week, police officers at district level would be transferred. No action has been taken against any police officers so far, and Haridwar police is yet to make any headway in this case.