Patna: A rape victim in Bihar had to walk for almost 40km to get home as the police allegedly abandoned her at the hospital after escorting her there for a medical test. The terrible incident took place in the Araria district, prompting authorities to order an inquiry.
According to reports, the 14 year old was alone at home when the accused, identified as Firoz Ansari, entered the house and allegedly raped her. The incident took place earlier this month. When the case was reported to the police, a team of police personnel reached the victim’s house and took her to the local government hospital in a police car for a medical examination.
Routine formalities
The victim has alleged that upon reaching the hospital, the police personnel handed her over to the doctors and left. Eventually, the girl had to walk all the way back home after the medico-legal formalities had been completed. She ended up having to walk around 40km in four hours as there was no transportation available due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown over the coronavirus outbreak.
Taking note of the incident, Bihar State Human Rights Commission chairman Dilmani Mishra has sought a report from the police department and demanded severe punitive measures against the police personnel who were guilty of such an inhumane act. Police have been told to submit the report within a fortnight.
Show-cause notices issued
Police said they sought an explanation from the policemen concerned and arrested the accused person as well. “The victim has alleged she was abandoned by the policemen who had taken her for medical tests [in] their jeep. We have issued show-cause notices to the policemen concerned and necessary action will be taken once we get the report,” Araria deputy superintendent of police Pushkar Kumar told Gulf News over the phone on Saturday.
Incidents of rape remain a matter of serious concern in Bihar. According to a report compiled by the police department, close to 9,000 incidents of rape have been reported in the past seven years. This year, as many as 193 incidents of rape were reported in the first two months.
