Cong seeks judicial probe into Champawat Case, questions police inquiry

my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 8 May: Uttarakhand Congress spokesperson Pratima Singh has written to the National Human Rights Commission seeking a judicial inquiry into the Champawat alleged gangrape case. She has also raised serious questions over the role of the police and alleged that the investigation is being conducted under pressure from the government.
Addressing a press conference in Dehradun here, today, Pratima Singh said the manner in which the police has handled the Champawat case has raised several doubts and has brought disrepute to the image of Devbhoomi. She alleged that the police is functioning under pressure from the ruling dispensation and questioned the legality of making public the statements of the alleged victim.
Singh said that, in the case involving a 16-year-old girl, an FIR had been lodged in which the girl had narrated the alleged incident that took place with her, following which a medical examination was conducted. Referring to provisions under the POCSO Act, she said the details of medical reports cannot be made public and statements recorded before a magistrate are confidential and can only be used during trial proceedings.
She alleged that the police had violated legal provisions by publicly disclosing the alleged victim’s statements and said this raises doubts over the impartiality of the investigation. According to her, the actions of the police indicated that the investigation was being influenced by the ruling party. She further alleged that individuals linked to the ruling establishment had become fearless because they believed political protection would shield them.
Singh claimed that after the name of a leader associated with the ruling party allegedly emerged in connection with the matter, efforts are being made to give the case a different direction. She said several questions are now being raised over the credibility of the police investigation and stressed the need for an impartial probe along with security for the alleged victim and her family.
In her letter to the NHRC, Singh referred to the socio-economic condition of the alleged victim’s family and stated that the girl’s 70-year-old father is physically disabled and bedridden, while the girl herself works at an ice cream shop and is also pursuing her studies to support the family.
She questioned the police version by asking that, if the police is now claiming that nothing had happened and that it was all part of a conspiracy, then what exactly had been mentioned in the FIR, why was a medical examination conducted and what findings emerged from it. She also questioned the delay between the alleged incident and the medical examination.
Singh further asked what statement had been recorded before the magistrate and how such information had been released publicly by the police. She said once an FIR is registered, the police cannot pronounce the conclusions before the matter goes to trial in court.
Referring to the statement issued by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Champawat, she said the medical examination of the girl was conducted by women doctors at around 7 a.m. on 6 May and no injury marks, signs of struggle or rope marks on the legs were found. She noted that there was reportedly one blue mark on the hand which was said to be three days old and that no evidence of sexual assault had allegedly emerged during internal examination. The CMO had also stated that swab samples and clothing samples had been sealed and handed over to the police for further examination.
However, Singh argued that according to the complaint submitted by the girl’s father, the alleged victim had been threatened with a weapon. She said in many cases victims may not resist due to fear, threats or intoxication and therefore absence of physical struggle marks cannot automatically rule out sexual assault. She claimed there are clear guidelines and court observations on this aspect.
She also questioned whether the women doctors had spoken in detail with the alleged victim regarding the sequence of events and whether the statements recorded before the magistrate matched those given before medical officials. She further questioned whether the girl was in a condition to make statements at the relevant time.
Singh also said many unanswered questions still remain regarding the statements made earlier by the girl’s father and brother. She questioned whether a 70-year-old ailing man could be part of such a conspiracy and whether a young girl struggling to support her father’s treatment and continue her education could deliberately stage such a serious incident while being fully aware of the possible social consequences and ostracism if the truth emerged.
Demanding a fair judicial inquiry into the entire Champawat episode, Singh said only an impartial probe could bring out the truth and help curb the increasing incidents of crimes against women in the state.
Congress leader Dhirendra Pratap was also present during the press conference and addressed the media on an issue related to statehood agitationists.