Death of a twelve-year old girl after suspected gang rape and assault in Friends Colony of Chatakpur under Ratu police station, about nine kilometres away from the heart of the city, instigated intense demonstrations from locals. In protest against the gruesome incident, locals blocked the NH75 on Wednesday by burning tyres and later indulged in violent clashes with security personnel present at the site.
The agitators were dispersed after being assured by the police forces that the culprits will be arrested soon. But, they congregated again started demanding compensation for the family of the deceased girl.
Tension increased as protestors blamed police lethargy for the incident and began hurling stones at the police forces deployed in the area, injuring some in the process. Hatia MlA Naveen Jaiswal arrived at the scene to calm the locals but was rudely dismissed.
lastly, policemen had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the protestors as they grew violent. They also fired three aerial shots for breaking up the agitating mob.
Meanwhile, two boys have been taken under custody on grounds of suspicion by the police for interrogation. One of them is Suraj Singh, the named suspect in the FIR filed in this case. He used to live opposite victim’s house and is a shady character, admitted a local resident.
The incident took place on Tuesday, when the victim was alone at her home. “Her brother had gone to a nearby Chhath ghat for offering the evening’s arghya, whereas her mother, a greengrocer, had gone to Piska More to sell vegetables. On returning home, the victim’s mother found the house ransacked and her daughter gagged and unconscious and her hands tied behind her back,” informed victim’s cousin Dharmendra Kumar. The girl was taken to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where she was declared dead by the doctors. The medical examination for confirming rape has been conducted with the results expected by Thursday.
Police authorities are mostly evading the question of the incident being a rape. We are waiting for the medical reports and then only will be able to make a definite statement, stated Silli DSP Anil Shankar.
“Although prima facie we believe the signs point towards this being a rape case, the entire situation will be clear only after we get the medical and post-mortem reports tomorrow,” stated Ratu PS Officer In-Charge.