Uttarakhand HC asks state govt to form SITs in all districts to probe rape-and-murder cases

The Uttarakhand high court took suo moto cognisance of the alleged gangrape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Uttarkashi.

Updated on: Aug 22, 2018, 07:14:16 IST

Hindustan Times, Nainital | By Neeraj Santoshi

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Taking suo motu cognisance of the alleged gangrape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Uttarkashi from media reports, the Uttarakhand high court on Tuesday directed the state government to constitute “permanent” Special Investigation Teams (SITs) in all the 13 of the districts that will probe the cases of ‘rape and murder’ from now on in the state.

A 12-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and gangraped on Friday by four labourers in Uttarkashi, leading to unrest in the area and prompting authorities to shut down internet services in the area. (AP/Picture for representation)

The HC also directed the state government to handover the case from police the to the SIT that will be constituted within 48 hours, with a direction to complete the inquiry and investigation in the matter within four weeks.

The HC said the SITs will comprise senior superintendent of police/superintendent of police, additional superintendent of police/circle officer (co)/inspector, woman inspector, psychologist/counsellor and a woman social worker.

The division bench of acting chief justice Rajiv Sharma and justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari issued these directions to the principal secretary home.

A 12-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and gangraped on Friday by four labourers in Uttarkashi, leading to unrest in the area and prompting authorities to shut down internet services in the area.

The HC also directed all the trail courts to ensure speedy trial of cases registered under Section 376 of IPC as well as under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), by holding day to day trial.

The HC also banned publishing of names or photographs of rape victims, including the blurred pictures in print, electronic and social media. The court said it had already directed the state government to consider amendment in the law for imposing death penalty upon persons convicted of rape upon minors.

“The state government, till date, has not made its stand clear in the matter,” the order said. It also directed the state government to provide protection to the victims and close family members of the victims in rape cases.

The HC appointed advocate Sanjay Bhatt and advocate Lata Negi, as amicus curiae in the case . The next hearing in the matter will be held on August 31.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neeraj Santoshi
Neeraj Santoshi is the Chief of Bureau for Hindustan Times in Uttarakhand, where he leads the state reporting team while covering government, politics, environment, wildlife, Uttarakhand High Court, and issues shaping the Himalayan region. With more than two decades in journalism across conflict zones, he has covered politically sensitive regions and environmentally fragile landscapes, and focused on stories that combine public interest with in-depth storytelling. An alumnus of Pune University with a Master’s in Communication Studies, he has reported extensively from Jammu & Kashmir (2003-2010), Madhya Pradesh (2010 to 2018 ) and Uttarakhand (Since 2018), covering subjects ranging from insurgency, elections and governance to wildlife conservation, mining, climate change, agriculture, human rights and social justice. He has covered politics and legislative assemblies of both Jammu & Kashmir and Madhya Pradesh over more than a decade. Before taking over as Chief of Bureau in Uttarakhand, he served as Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times in Madhya Pradesh and earlier reported for both Hindustan Times and The Indian Express in Jammu & Kashmir, where he covered state politics, environment and insurgency-related developments. Over the years, his stories have focused on environmental degradation, wildlife, illegal mining, governance and the changing social fabric of Himalayan states and Central India. He is particularly interested in long-form explanatory journalism, and stories that explore the intersection of ecology, conservation, governance and society. Outside the newsroom, Neeraj enjoys reading widely on neuroscience, consciousness studies, Artificial Intelligence and quantum physics, with a special interest in Kashmiri Tantric Shaivist traditions. He is also passionate about wildlife, mountaineering and the Himalayas, interests that continue to inform his reporting and deepen his understanding of the region he covers.Read More

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