IT News
Imphal, May 28,
Pressure from NGOs, students’ body and Rights activist have finally handed over the controversial Thanga gang rape case to Crime Branch, however, the handling of the case by the Crime branch authority once again is sceptic of delivering justice to the minor victim as the interrogation conducted to the minor victim appeared more like lack of professionalism and training as the victim girl fainted twice on two different occasion unable to bear the question.
On May 24 a team of the crime branch along with lady police came to the victim’s family and interrogated the minor victim for over two hours and due to lack of training how to create friendly environment in dealing with minor sexually assaulted Children the victim minor fainted and was rushed to the District Hospital Bishnupur. The father of the victim girl even though was not happy on the way the team interrogated could not say or complaint anything as he have no idea of the law.
“I am not happy these police people are interrogating my daughter who is already in state of trauma”, the victim’s father told over phone to one of his friend. He further said that he could not said anything as he assume it as normal procedure.
The nature of investigation being carried out by the State Police dealing with Thanga Gang Rape case is vehemently condemn by Youth’s Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR) . The forum said that the investigation team failed to maintain the child friendly environment but created an environment of interrogation of criminals beside a member of District Child Protection Unit, Bishnupur was present.
“Failure in maintaining child friendly environment by the lady Police Officer clearly indicates that the State Police dealing with the cases have not been trained properly on how to deal with a minor sexual assault victim and also indicates to victimize the victim not to reveal the case but to stay silent”, the Forum added.
The Forum asked the team, “how many more statement of the victim girl is in need to be recorded besides repeated recording of 161 statements by the WPS Bishnupur in the first instance, also by the Special Investigation Team which was formed to investigate the matter, also 2 times recording of 164 statement by the court and also attempt to record another statement by the present investigation team. YFPHR suspect that it is an attempt to victimize and suppress the victim girl by the Investigation Team of the case having nexus with Political influences and the accused family members like earlier”.
It could be noted that the victim girl was fainted due to PTSD on the 26th of April, 2018 while present for the 2nd time recording of 164 statements and on 24th May, 2018 recording of statement by the present Investigation Team as the Lady Police Officer had used harsh words and had heated argument with the victim girl, where we believe that the Investigating Officer was trained to harass the girl and were not trained properly on how to deal with a minor sexual assault victim, the forum alleged.
The YFPHR also condemn the District Child Protection Unit, Bishnupur for keeping silent besides knowing the fact of such ill treatment by the Lady Police Officer in front of its members who is responsible to protect the rights of the child or the victim.
YFPHR urged the Investigating Team to stop meeting the child and harassing her in the name of recording statement as the Investigation Team has much statements to review the earlier statement Provided and would like to appeal the CM, DGP and Social Welfare Minister to punish the Lady Police Officer for harassing the girl.
