Six male S-Is took statements of rape victims,violated law: Activist

Citing relevant amended sections under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC),Arora has submitted that if found guilty of registering statement of a rape victim,a male police officer can be awarded a minimum imprisonment of six months. The maximum imprisonment in such cases can be up to two years. “It is a matter of shock for any public-spirited person that despite the statutory amendment,male officers posted in a number of police stations in Chandigarh are still recording statements of rape victims for registering FIR” Arora’s letter states.

Arora said that if appropriate action is not taken by the department he will petition the High Court.

“Police are considered the guardians of law. They are supposed to be pro-active for implementation of laws. However,here is a case where police officers are violating the law,instead of enforcing,and thereby rendering themselves for prosecution under the aforesaid amended provisions of the Indian Penal Code. They are,therefore,liable to be dealt more strictly than ordinary offenders”,Arora said.

“This exercise is necessary for enforcement of the aforesaid statutory provisions of law. The violators have to be prosecuted”,reads the letter.