Page 34 - 31MAY2019E

A FIR in Alwar gang-rape
Dalit woman was gang-raped
on April 26 in Rajasthan’s
Alwar. Police were informed
on April 30. However, the
FIR was filed on May 7. It is
alleged the police did not act quickly be- delayed due to polls
cause of the election in the state, which
voted in the Lok Sabha polls in two phas-
es on April 29 and May 6. The police, on its The victim was raped in front of her husband and the act was filmed
part, said that they have arrested all the by five men. The video clip was later uploaded on social media by the
six accused — Indra Raj Gurjar, Mahesh accused, reports tehelka bureau
Gurjar, Ashok Gurjar, Hansraj Gurjar,
Chhote Lal Gurjar and Mukesh Gurjar. can be filed at SP office and it will be Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati
On April 26, the woman was riding monitored why the FIR was not filed at reportedly said.
pillion on a motorcycle with her husband the police station concerned and action The National Commission for Sched-
when the accused, who were on two will be taken. Steps will be taken so that uled Castes, meanwhile, has asked for a
bikes, waylaid them in Alwar and took crime rate reduces in the state,” Gehlot criminal case against police officers who
them to a field. They allegedly thrashed said. He said that a committee has been allegedly delayed acting on the woman’s
the husband and raped the woman in constituted to investigate the matter and plea for help. The incident, after which
front of him. Mukesh Gurjar allegedly lapses that occurred. a clip of the rape was circulated by the
filmed the crime in his mobile phone. “Action will be taken based on the attackers, has provoked rage and protests
After the couple went to the police, the inquiry report against the officers,” the across the state.
accused allegedly demanded money chief minister said, adding that the state “I have asked that negligent police
for not circulating the video on social government will appoint a Circle Of- officers should be booked under section
media. ficer (CO) rank official to look into the 4 of SC/ST Act, charge sheet should be
On May 7, the Rajasthan govern- case of crime against women in the state filed within 15 days and the case should
ment removed Alwar police chief Rajiv for effective monitoring and speedy be monitored daily,” the Commission’s
Pachar and suspended another officer, investigation. vice chairman L Murgan told reporters
Sardar Singh, who was in charge of the Rajasthan Chief Secretary D.B Gupta on Friday, news agency PTI reported.
police station where the survivor had said that action will be taken after com- The victim’s husband had claimed that
approached. Four more policemen have mittees constituted to investigate the he had approached the police on April 26
been taken off duty. matter submit their reports. Jaipur Divi- after the incident, but an FIR was filed
According to National SC/ST Commis- sional Commissioner and DIG vigilance on May 7. He had alleged that the police
sion Vice Chairman L Murgan, a com- have been asked to probe the matter sep- did not take action saying that they were
pensation of 4 lakh has been paid to the arately. They have been asked to submit busy with elections. The victim’s fam-
gang-rape survivor, apart from 50,000 report in 10 days. Further action will be ily has submitted a memorandum for
from the women and child development taken after the report, Gupta said. speedy trial, compensation and govern-
department. The incident had sparked The case took on political hues with ment job. The Commission has also asked
protests in parts of Rajasthan - Makrana the BJP accusing the Congress state gov- the state government to check how the
in Nagaur district and Kota - with people ernment of not doing enough to control victim’s husband can be provided com-
seeking swift justice in the case. crime. “In Congress Ruled Rajasthan for 7 pensation under SC/ST (Prevention of
With the Congress government in the days the cops sat on Dalit gangrape and Atrocities) Act, he added.
state facing flak over the incident, Chief waited for the polls to end. If the same Three rape incidents have been re-
Minister Ashok Gehlot said that the cul- would have happened in a BJP ruled ported from parts of Alwar district in less
prits of the heinous crime will not be state, the gang of liberals would have than two weeks. On May 7, a 40-year-old
spared and speedy trial will be ensured. unleashed their most scathing attack Dalit woman was allegedly raped inside
He said that the state government will on Modi Is Lutyen extending it’s protec- the Community Health Centre (CHC) by
make arrangements that an FIR can be tion to Rahul?” BJP spokesperson Sambit an ambulance driver and a compounder
filed at the Superintendent of Police (SP) Patra tweeted. at Kathumar. The district police received
office itself if the SHO concerned does “The guilty in the Alwar gang-rape the complaint about the gangrape on
not file the first information report and case should be hanged. The Supreme May 9. As per the FIR, on May 7 night,
investigate complaints. Court should take action against the ambulance driver Ram Niwas Gujjar
“We are going to take an important Congress government, the police and the locked the door of the delivery room
decision that if an SHO doesn’t file FIR administration in the state. This matter is from inside, gagged the victim with a
then there will be a provision that FIR not just related to Dalits but all women,” piece of cloth before he and compounder

Tehelka / 31 may 2019 34 www.Tehelka.com