UCRPC team objects to early discharge of rape victim by Coronation Hospital
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 18 Sep: Taking cognisance of the news reports related to the rape of a minor girl and death of her newborn child, a team of Uttarakhand Child Rights Protection Commission visited the Coronation Hospital here, today, where the minor victim had been admitted. The Commission team was led by Member of the Commission, Vinod Kaparwan.
However, by the time the team of the Commission reached the Hospital, the minor victim had been discharged already under Police supervision at her own request and allowed to go home. This case is related to the alleged rape of the minor victim by a police official and another youth in Tehri. The girl was alleged to have been raped multiple times and had become pregnant. She was admitted to Coronation Hospital where she delivered a premature baby that could not survive.
The Commission observed that there is a need for an impartial investigation in view of the seriousness of the case. The Commission has directed the authorities concerned including the police department to ensure that the victim is not mentally harassed in any way, and it must be remembered that the victim is a minor girl. The Commission also noted with anguish that even after almost a week since the case was filed, the DNA test of the child has not been done yet, which gives rise to suspicion regarding the seriousness on part of the Police to bring the guilty to book.
At the personal request of the victim’s family, she was taken to Tehri under police supervision to complete the legal process. The Commission also further noted that the Commission members had spoken to the Investigating Officer (IO) in this case but has not received any satisfactory response so far. Nor has the Commission been informed about any further appropriate action taken by the police to take the case to its logical conclusion.
The Commission also observed that the victim can be ensured justice by taking action under relevant sections in both the cases registered under the POCSO Act. It has directed the authorities that the victim has not recovered, as yet, and is yet to heal. Therefore, she should be kept under medical observation.
Commission member Vinod Kaparwan sought detailed information from the hospital’s Chief Medical Superintendent, Dr VS Chauhan, and Public Relations Officer Pramod Panwar. The Commission also raised objections as to why the victim had been discharged when she was yet to recover physically. The police investigation details and the medical reports also in respect of the death of the newborn child have been sought by the Commission. During the visit to the Coronation Hospital, Kaparwan was accompanied by Under Secretary of the Commission, Dr Satish Kumar, and Vishal Chhachra, the Private Secretary of Chairperson of the Commission, Dr Geeta Dawar Khanna.
