Probe ordered into brick-kiln rapes

Even though the medical officials confirmed three rapes, the SP claims only one girl has been raped

A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the alleged gangrape in Sirohideeh village, where 17 girls from Jharkhand were allegedly molested and raped inside a brick kiln on February 23. Five police personnel, including the Station House Officer of Bheempura police station, were also suspended in this connection.

So far, the police have arrested the kiln owner OP Singh, his clerk Arun Singh and seven others. On February 21, around 25 youths forcibly entered a brick kiln in Sirohideeh village and allegedly molested the girls working there. The accused 8212; armed with knife, pistols and batons 8212;beat up the workers and robbed them of their possessions.

The incident was believed to be triggered by the announcement of Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll schedule by the Chief Election Commissioner on February 21. Barring five women who were married, all girls were in the age group of 15 to 18. The victims were sent to the Women Hospital, where their medical examination was conducted after 35 hours of the incident.

Intriguingly, even as the Chief Medical Superintendent of Women Hospital Dr Yogmaya Trivedi said that rape was confirmed on three girls, Ballia Superintendent of Police Iqramul Haq maintained that only one girl was raped.

When The Indian Express met the victims on February 24, they confided that no one was spared on that eventful night. However, since the matter involved bigwigs, the medical report and police statements kept changing. The police said the aim of the miscreants 8212; from the liquor mafia 8212; was to terrorise the kiln people as they indulged in making country liquor. 8220;But they ended up in molesting the girls,8221; reiterated the DIG Ballia KM Pandey.

He admitted that liquor was being misused during the elections and said the mafia wants to stop the production of country liquor.

Ballia has over 500 kilns and in each one of them country liquor is made under the camouflage of brick making. 8220;The fact is known to the police and we keep conducting raids,8221; said the SP.

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However, the locals claimed that the illegal liquor business is booming in the district due to the police, which work hand in glove with the liquor mafia.

Meanwhile, the BJP has demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged mass rape. BJP MLA Ram Iqbal Singh 8212; who met the victims on Saturday 8212; blamed the ruling party MLA for the incident. Singh said since the MLA has a business of Arjinia 8212; a chemical which causes intoxication and is popular among the rural folks 8212; he is also responsible for encouraging the liquor mafia. The matter has also been raised in the House.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi has sent party general secretary Bhola Pandey to Ballia to take stock of the situation, a party spokesman said.

8211;With PTI