Shimla rape: Widow of accused shifted to govt shelter, victim’s school named after her
Mamta, the rape accused’s wife, has been provided round-the-clock security as public remains agitated about the incident.
The widow of Nepalese national Suraj Singh, who died in police custody after being accused of the rape and murder of a schoolgirl in Kotkhai, was on Saturday shifted from her home to the women’s shelter Nari Niketan in Shimla for security purposes.
Mamta, 22, who was whisked away from her village, Hilaila, after she recorded her statement before a judge in Theog on Friday, was first taken to Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) where she identified the body. She has been provided round-the-clock security at the Nari Niketan, as the public remains restive and there are also beliefs that Suraj may have been used as a cover-up by the actual culprits.
Suraj was allegedly strangled by another suspect, Rajendra Singh, during a scuffle at the Kotkhai police station on Tuesday night. The duo were among the six men arrested for the gangrape and murder of the 16-year-old girl. Hailing from Bajuara district in Nepal, Suraj had for the past four years worked as a daily wager with a leading orchardist in Kotkhai tehsil’s Hilaila village.
Victim’s name revealed
Meanwhile, in an attempt to assuage the outraged public, the government announced to upgrade the middle school at Dhar Tarpunoo (Tali) in Kotkhai — where the girl studied in her initial years — to senior secondary level and name it after her. She had had to shift to a school at some distance as this school did not have higher classes; and used to walk home through the woods where she was kidnapped.
In the process, though, the government revealed her name even as law says a victim’s identity must not be revealed in cases of sexual assault.
The spokesperson said nine additional posts of teaching staff have been created for the school for which notification has been issued. Deputy commissioner Rohan Thakur had visited the victim’s family who had demanded the upgrade.
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