Cops have worsened victim’s ordeal: College staffers

The investigation into the rape at Khar, in which a stepfather has been accused of raping a 21-year-old woman for over six years, is riddled with holes, reports Shahkar Abidi.

The investigation into the rape at Khar, in which a stepfather has been accused of raping a 21-year-old woman for over six years, is riddled with holes.

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The college staffers, who had encouraged the girl to file a complaint, said that the victim is being made to sit for long hours at the police station to record her statement.

They are also angry that the woman is being subjected to a series of medical tests even though she had allegedly last been raped almost three years ago.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone IX, M.M. Prasanna has denied the charges. “We are doing whatever is mandatory as per law,” Prasanna said on Sunday.

On Friday, the girl lodged a complaint with the Khar police station alleging that her stepfather had raped her for six years till 2006.

She said she was afraid of confiding in her mother or approach the police as it would defame her and her family.

When she told her story to her college professor, the latter encouraged her to take the matter to the police.

Sources at the Khar police station claim that the faculty members are upset that the victim has been called several times to record her statements though she is still in trauma.

They said that little would be revealed in the medical examination of the girl as the last rape had allegedly occurred more than three years ago. The police are still making her go through long and tedious medical tests, they said.

A senior officer from the Khar police station, who is a part of the investigating team, said the police has little choice. “We understand their (college staffers) agony. This is quite natural. We are dealing with the victim with care and sensitivity. However, we have to do our job as per the law,” he said.