Cops refuse to register complaint of rape victim

In a shocking incident reflecting insensitivity on the part of the Uttar Pradesh Police, cops here turned away a minor rape victim without getting her medically examined.

The cops told her that her reputation would be damaged if she lodged a complaint.

Taking a serious view of the matter, the government on Saturday suspended a cop and ordered a probe into the incident. According to the sources here, the victim, a student of Class VIII , was raped by a neighbour on Friday. The culprit had offered the victim a drink laced with sedatives and then raped at her at his house.

On regaining consciousness, she narrated the incident to her mother and the duo then approached the cops at Wazirganj police station in the state capital for registration of a  complaint  of rape against the accused.

Sources said that the cop on duty, identified as Anwar, who was responsible for lodging the complaint, told the victim that she would be discredited if she filed a complaint and was taken for medical examination. He then turned away the victim and her mother, who works as a maid servant.

Senior officials intervened when they came to know about the matter and a case was finally registered on Saturday.

The victim was also sent for a  medical examination. Sources said that Anwar has been suspended and a circle officer has been entrusted with the task of conducting a probe into the matter.

The incident comes amid widespread criticism of the state police over its handling of cases of crimes against women in the wake of the recent gang-rape of a minor and her mother on a highway in Bulandshahar district.

The police failed to respond in time to the victims’ pleas.