National Human Rights Commission: Taking serious view of the mishandling of a complaint by the Uttar Pradesh Police about a gang rape in Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh on the 5th November, 2013, the Commission directed its DIG (Investigation) to submit an inquiry report within four weeks.
In a scathing observation about the functioning of the State police, the Commission, on the basis of the material on record, found that at first, there was a delay in registration of an FIR in the matter. Thereafter, the case, even as it was oscillating between Firozabad and Mathura police, was not properly investigated. Instead, the U.P. Police authorities tried to malign the character of the victim. They neither arrested the accused persons nor interrogated them and closed the investigation in the case on the ground that the victim was a woman of questionable character. The issue relates to the FIR No.70/13, Mahila Police Station, Firozabad, in Uttar Pradesh.
Recording its extreme distress at such a mentality of UP Police Officers, which it held as discernible in this case, the Commission has stressed that every woman, irrespective of her bonafide/character has a legal protection against violation of her body.
In view of the seriousness of the allegations about the totally biased and partisan attitude displayed by Firozabad and Mathura district police, the Commission has directed its DIG, (Investigation) to depute a team to record detailed statements of the complainant, the victim, her husband and her witnesses, about the allegations contained in Case FIR No. 70/13 Mahila Police Station, Firozabad, Distt. The DIG (Investigation) shall also analyze the Case file of the Case at Crime no. 70/13 u/s 376D/352/504/506 IPC, Mahila Police Station, Firozabad and submit a detailed report within 4 weeks. It has also been directed that the investigation team should also collect the copy of the writ petition in Writ Notice No.3201405101(MB)/2014. They should also collect statement of the victim recorded u/s 164 Cr.P.C. and also the medical examination report and other medical treatment records of the victim.
