A fact-finding team of the BJP headed by former minister Bimla Pradhan and former Chairperson, Jharkhand SCPCR Arti Kujur on Friday visited Khunti to investigate the alleged gang rape of a minor tribal girl on Monday night under Karra police station area.
However, the team members could not meet the victim to record her statement since before the fact finding team reached she was taken to Karra police station for completing legal procedures. She was supposed to be taken to Khunti Sadar hospital for her medical check-up when the fact-finding team enquired the police regarding the whereabouts of the girl. But the team could meet family members of the victim who said that the victim was gang raped by five youths who kidnapped her while she was returning home. Family members said that she remained at the police station till Wednesday evening.
“Rape itself is a heinous case. Here a minor girl was gang raped. Instead of taking quick action the police showed an unprofessional attitude. Her medical examination was delayed,” “ said Kujur.
“Police officials are claiming that her medical examination is freshly done on the direction of the court. She is a minor and she must be produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Khunti district which was done. The officer in-charge of Karra police station claims that this is not his responsibility to produce the victim before CWC. The official claimed he thrice informed CWC in this regard,” said Kujur.
Kujur said that conduct of Khunti police has given reasons to doubt that the case is deliberately weakened.
“Instead producing the girl before CWC police kept her at the police station for three days. She later on dropped at her home without security. Her counselling was not done. She was again picked-up for a medical test. Such actions of Khunti police create doubt,” she said.
The fact-finding team will submit its report to State BJP president Deepak Prakash as well as National Child Rights Commission by next week.
Meanwhile, a BJP delegation will visit Rangari in Simdega district to meet family members of Mahanand Sahu who a few days back was shot dead by criminals. Former minister and state vice president of BJP Neelkanth Singh Munda, former minister Amar Kumar Bauri and other senior leaders will be the part of this delegation.