Jail staff knew of Banda rape

At least two employees of the Banda jail knew about the trauma of the girl who was allegedly raped by BSP legislator.

At least two employees of the Banda jail knew about the trauma of the girl who was allegedly raped by BSP legislator Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi at his residence and then framed in a case of theft. But they did not inform their superiors for fear of getting involved in the matter. In their statements to the CB-CID,jail staff members Shahjahan Begum and Rama Shankar Shukla have corroborated that they knew the girls story since December 14,the day she reached jail,sources said.

This was 10 days before she was produced in court,met her brother,and narrated her story.

Sources said when the CB-CID team asked the girl why she did not tell anyone about her ordeal all these days,she replied that she had informed Shahjahan Begum on the very first day.

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Shahjahan Begum told CB-CID that on the evening of December 14,when the girl reached the jail,she looked uneasy and could not even walk properly. When asked,she told about her rape and beating at the MLAs residence. Shahjahan Begum then informed head warder Rama Shankar Shukla. Both,however,decided to remain silent.

The girl had stayed at the MLAs residence from December 8 to 12,during which time,she alleged,the MLA had raped her twice. When he tried to assault her a third time,she tried to escape but was caught,beaten up,and handed over to the police in a false case of theft.

The police,however,claim they arrested her on December 14 on a complaint of theft lodged by the MLAs son.

The CB-CID team has examined the room at the MLAs residence where the girl had stayed and where she was allegedly raped. They have collected the girls clothes for forensic examination.

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The room has been thoroughly cleaned up and the clothes have been washed. There is a little hope of getting any evidence from there, said a CB-CID officer.

On Friday,the medical board constituted on the direction of the court to ascertain the girls age,submitted its report,stating that she is around 18 years old.

The police also filed a report in court stating that she is above 18,and submitted a letter from Madhyamik Vidhayalay,Sehbajpur,where the girl had studied,stating that her date of birth was February 5,1992.

Her advocate Ramhit Nishad questioned the validity of the schools letter. The court later asked him to submit the evidence to show that the girl is a minor and fixed the hearing for January 11.