JOIN USRape victims wait 17 hrs for medical test in UP
In an incident which reflects insensitivity on the part of the authorities, two rape victims — both minors — were made to wait for over 17 hours for their medical examination as the doctors at government hospital here insisted on rectifying the technical flaws before examining them.
The hapless victims, in the meantime, sat alone in the corridor of the hospital covering their faces with their hands — a reflection of shame and humiliation faced by them.
According to reports, a 10-year-old girl had allegedly been raped by her relative in the state capital. Parents had lodged an FIR and the culprit had been arrested.
A police team reached the government hospital here with the minor victim around midnight on Friday for her medical examination. Her parents were also there.
The doctors on duty, however, refused to medically examine her saying there was a technical flaw in the police FIR. They claimed that police had not included the Indian Penal Code section with regard to rape in the FIR and hence they could not examine the victim.
The victim ultimately was medically examined after a good 17 hours when senior officials intervened.
In another case, doctors refused to conduct medical examination of a 14-year-old girl who had also allegedly been raped. They said her age was not clear and without a report regarding her age, they could not examine her.
She was also made to wait for over 17 hours before she was medically examined.
“Its nothing but humiliation. My child kept sitting in a corner in the corridor awaiting medical examination. Everyone who passed by used to ask if something was wrong with her,” said girl’s furious father.
Senior officials have promised a probe into the matter. “An FIR is not essential for medical examination of the rape victim,” a senior official said.