PCA slams police: ‘Be more sensitive to rape victim’

Taking strong exception to the attitude of UT Police officials towards rape victims,the PCA has asked the Inspector General (IG) of Police to take action against them.

Directions have been passed on a complaint filed by a rape victim who had alleged that she was ravished by one Gagan on the pretext of giving her a role in a TV serial.

The victim through her counsel H C Arora has alleged that SHO Shri Parkash humiliated and embarrassed her. Instead of showing compassion and sympathy towards her,Parkash allegedly asked her “very embarrassing and awkward questions”.

Coming down heavily on the SHO,PCA has ruled that “there are certain ways and means to interrogate a rape victim. Many guidelines have been issued on this matter by the courts. SHO was not supposed to ask vivid questions as to how the rape was done,especially as the SHO was a male officer”. The order further reads that “the conduct of SHO shows that he is not at all sensitive to the situation”.

The accused,Gagan,was arrested only after the complaint was filed in PCA.

Referring to the conduct of earlier previous investigating officer,SI Balbir Singh Kanda,the victim had alleged that Kanda had deliberately caused a delay in arresting the accused. Kanda had allegedly arranged a raid to apprehend the accused but had returned half way to take bath.

Commenting on his role,the PCA has ruled that “he should have detailed any other officer to hold the raid. This shows how callous he was regarding his duty and commitment”.

The victim had further alleged that the new investigating officer,SI Jaswinder Kaur of Crime Branch,had introduced a property angle to the case and “advised” the victim to enter into a compromise,leave Chandigarh and stay at some unknown place.

After going through the comments of DSP Ashish Kapoor,the PCA has observed that “probably he chose to side with his officials and did not make any worthwhile efforts to actually look into the misconduct of his juniors as complained to him”.

PCA also disapproved of the conduct of the officers of the police station in sending a uniformed policeman to the residence of the rape victim for conveying her some message. “Why did not police send a lady officer in civil dress to seek any clarification or information?” the order reads.

Reprimanding the police,the PCA has held that “now in thana if a police officer misbehaves with any complainant,from where he or she will bring eyewitnesses? Finally,it is complainant’s word against the police official’s word. We would have expected the police in this case to be more sensitive,sympathetic and helpful to lessen the mental agony of the complainant.”

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