Under intense media pressure,the Rajasthan government asked the Special Operation Group of the police to find and arrest former DIG Madhukar Tandon,who had allegedly raped a tribal woman 13 years ago and had been absconding. "The SOG has been assigned the task to arrest Madhukar Tandon. The crime branch was already investigating the case,but he could not be arrested as he was absconding," state Home Minister Shanti Dhariwal told reporters ion Jaipur on Wednesday. He said the government would also go into how Tandon had got out of the clutches of law and who are responsible for it "This is a serious matter. The accused has not been arrested since 1997.Those who had information about him,why didn't they do anything.we will go into the matter. If anybody tries to disturb the law and order,police will take action," Dhariwal said. The woman was allegedly abducted and taken to Noida in Uttar Pradesh in January 1997 where she was allegedly raped by the former IPS officer,then posted in police headquarters. Meanwhile,thousands of protesters blocked the Jaipur-Agra highway in Dausa district,57 km from Jaipur,after their MP Kirori Lal Meena (Independent),who was on a dharna here seeking justice for the tribal woman,was arrested along with 13 others in the wee hours of Wednesday. "A stretch of 30 km of the highway was blocked at many places,including Mahua,Bandikui and Lalsot by the protesters who demanded Meena's release," informed Dausa ASP Gopal Singh. "Fourteen people,including Meena,were arrested under section 151 of CrPC (arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences) and taken to Ajmer Jail,while the other persons who were on dharna were sent to their houses," IG (Jaipur Range-I) B L Soni said. Meanwhile,the UP police said they are also looking out for the accused. "UP police is on the look out for Tandon. We are making all possible efforts to find out that where is his location,his ownership of various plots in Noida and other details," ADG (law and order) A K Jain said.
