SC seeks all documents on Birbhum gang rape from Bengal

The Supreme Court Friday directed the West Bengal government to place before it the FIR, witness statements, case dairy and the final forensic report in the Birbhum gang rape case.

A bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi sought these documents after perusing a report by the state chief secretary on the gang rape of a 19-year-old girl of Labpur village in Birbhum district.

"Our feeling is that they have taken some steps, but some more effective steps are needed to be taken," said the chief justice, while impleading the state government in the matter.

"State of West Bengal represented by the Chief Secretary, is impleaded as respondent in this matter," said the court.

The state government was asked to place on record the first information report, the case diaries and result of investigation/police report under section 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), statements recorded under Section 161 Cr.P.C., final forensic opinion, report of vaginal swab/other medical tests conducted on the victim on the next date of hearing.

The court said that the counsel appearing on behalf of the state government is also directed to place the translated copies of the above mentioned documents on record and supply copies to Assistant Solicitor General Sidharth Luthra who is assisting the court in this matter.

The court directed the next hearing on the matter March 4.

The apex court Jan 24 took suo motu cognizance of the gang rape, describing it as "very disturbing". The court issued a notice to the West Bengal government and sought a report from the district judge within a week.

It is alleged that the victim was raped by a dozen men on the orders of the village head as punishment for falling in love with a man from a different community.