JOIN USGang-rape: Panel raps police for lethargy
A Union Home Ministry probe is believed to have indicted Delhi Police for failing to promptly respond to a distress call made to help the gang-rape victim and her friend who were assaulted and thrown out of a moving bus on December 16.
It is learnt that the Delhi government also came under fire from the one-member panel, a joint secretary of the Home Ministry, for not taking action against the bus owner though the vehicle was fined by the traffic police several times.
Six men were arrested and are facing trial for raping and assaulting the 23-year-girl who died after battling for life for 13 days in hospital.
It is learnt that Joint Secretary Veena Kumari Meena, in her report submitted to Home secretary R K Singh, found fault with the police for delay in shifting the victims to hospital. The police, which arrived at the South Delhi spot in time, could have transported them to Safdarjung hospital earlier.
Meena was asked to probe into allegations the victim’s friend made during an interview to a television channel. He alleged that the three PCR vans that reached the spot wasted two hours fighting over the jurisdiction under which the spot fell. He also accused the Safdarjung hospital of not offering him a piece of cloth to cover his almost naked body.
Veena is believed to have come to the conclusion that despite the traffic police challaning the contract carriage bus several times, the transport department failed to confiscate its permit.
It is not known what action the ministry will recommend on the basis of the findings.