Tribal girl Meena was raped before murder: Judicial Report

Tribal girl  Meena Khalkho was raped before murder and she died of bullets fired by the police and not in encounter, observed Justice (Retired) Anita Jha in the judicial probe report, which was tabled in the Chhattisgarh Assembly late on Saturday night.Justice (Retired) Jha in the report held the police responsible for Khalkho's death and recommended identification of police personnel responsible for the act.

Notably, Meena Khalkho, a tribal girl residing in the limits of Chando police station in Balrampur district of northern Chhattisgarh was shot dead on the intervening night of July 5 and 6, 2011.Police had initially claimed that Meena was involved in Naxal activities and was killed in cross firing with Naxals. The State Government had then ordered a judicial probe into the case.

The one-member Judicial Commission after thorough investigation observed that police was responsible for Meena Khalkho's death and the encounter story presented by police was not worth believing.    The report stated that no other person was injured or dead beside Meena Khalkho in the encounter reported by the police.

“The girl was raped and excess brutal force was used in establishing physical contact as apart from bullet injuries. The body had serious injury marks, blood clots in lungs and the seventh rib broken,” the report said adding, the rape was committed by one person or several persons was not clear.The report mentioned that Meena Khalkho was not involved in any Naxal activity and police was responsible for her death.