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Rape accused SHO in judicial custody

CHANDIGARH: Even as several political and social organisations in Haryana protested on Friday against yet another incident of alleged rape by a police officer, a Karnal court remanded the accused -- the Station House Officer of Nissing police station – to 14 days’ judicial custody and directed that he undergo a DNA test.

According to reports received here from Karnal, members of different organisations staged a demonstration demanding dismissal of the accused SHO who was suspended on Thursday after the incident came to light.

In Rohtak, too, activists of the Students’ Federation of India, Janwadi Mahila Samiti and Centre of Indian Trade Unions took out a march from Mansarowar Park to the office of the Commissioner of Rohtak Range. In Hisar, protesters gathered at Krantiman Park and blocked vehicular traffic near the Inspector-General’s office.

Reacting to the incident, State CPI(M) secretary Inderjit Singh in a statement demanded that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda take immediate action to curb “criminalisation of the police” in the State. He said the alleged rape of the young woman by the police officer who was supposed to provide security to her and her husband as per High Court orders for having married on their own choice had sent shock waves through the entire State.

It was, he said, a grave matter that incidents involving policemen were coming to light almost daily.

Meanwhile, addressing the media in Karnal, Inspector-General of Police V. Kamraj said that on getting information about the incident the police acted swiftly and got both the inspector and the victim medically examined. Following the initial investigation, the inspector had been suspended and a departmental inquiry was in progress.

Mr. Kamraj said the DNA test would be conducted on Monday. “A blood sample of the inspector has been taken and its report is expected in a couple of days. After getting the report, the accused would be charge-sheeted and legal action would be taken against him,” he added.

He made it clear that an impartial enquiry would be conducted. Asked about the whereabouts of the victim and her husband, he said they were under police protection.

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