PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Uttarakhand State Commissioner for Women (USCW) chairwoman Kusum Kandwal has taken cognisance of the alleged gangrape of a 15-year-old girl at Khanpur in Haridwar district and has directed the police to take strict action against the accused.
According to reports, the minor had gone to collect fodder on April 26 and was allegedly abducted and gangraped by three youths. She was found unconscious on April 27, after which her family filed a written complaint with the police. Kandwal termed the incident an attack on the dignity of Uttarakhand, stating that such inhumane acts and the despicable mentality behind love Jihad will not be tolerated in the State. She emphasised that the State government and the commission are adopting a very strict policy against criminals who target minor girls based on their religious identity.
Given the gravity of the incident, she informed that she immediately spoke with Haridwar’s superintendent of police (Rural) Shekhar Suyal to gather detailed information about the case. During their conversation, she issued strict instructions to the police administration that no criminal involved in this heinous act should remain unpunished.
Kandwal expressed strong displeasure over the local police’s gross negligence in this case and the pressure allegedly exerted on the victim to change her statement. Regarding the delay in action following the family’s complaint and the alleged attempts to favour the accused, she stated unequivocally that police officers who directly or indirectly supported the criminals and attempted to suppress the case were also complicit in the crime. She described the suspension of the Khanpur police station in-charge as a necessary step and directed that a thorough departmental inquiry be initiated, with punitive action to be taken against all officers involved who failed to perform their duties.
Further, she said that she instructed the police to ensure that the remaining absconding accused are immediately arrested and that effective action is taken against them under relevant stringent sections, including the POCSO Act. Kandwal also stated that representatives from the commission will soon meet personally with the victim and her family to provide them with all possible legal and psychological support. She assured that the commission is monitoring this case and will work through the government and administration to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime receive the harshest punishment for their actions.
