Cops under fire in Noida rape case

Taking serious note of the incident in which identity of Noida gang rape victim was revealed by police, Union Women and Child Development ministry has sought an action taken report from the UP government.

“Police officers should know that identity has to be protected as per law in certain cases. This kind of attitude by the police is very dangerous,” minister of state for women and child development (Independent charge) Krishna Tirath said while referring to the Noida gang rape case.

The minister also took an exception to other remarks made by the Noida police in the case. “The police say the victim had voluntarily consumed alcohol before she was allegedly gang raped. It is wrong to say such things about anyone,” Tirath said.

Tirath said she had directed her ministry to write to the UP government about the need to sensitise police officers about  handling cases related to crimes against women. Tirath added that her ministry has planned to write such letters to all state governments.

In the WCD ministry letter to the UP government, additional secretary Sudhir Kumar has apprised state chief secretary Anoop Mishra that the incident was “all the more unfortunate as the identity has been disclosed by those who are themselves responsible for enforcing the law”. 

In the letter, Kumar has told Mishra that the Noida police is “alleged to have revealed the identification details of a girl, who was gang raped”. 

“Section 228 A of IPC prohibits disclosure of the identity of the victims of certain offences, including rape,” the letter said.