PANAJI
Amid “jurisdiction confusion” among cops into the alleged rape of a mentally unsound woman, the Victim Assistance Unit (VAU) for Goa has sought the intervention of Director General of Police Jaspal Singh to hand over the case to Women Police Station.
The matter pertains to a disclosure made by the 27-year-old West Bengal native to the doctors at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB) that she was sexually exploited by unknown men at Baga.
Apparent reluctance by the Women police to investigate the case prompted the department to direct the Calangute police to follow mandatory procedures before handing over the case files to the specialized unit.
The VAU alleged that the lone lady sub-inspector is in a helpless situation without support for the investigation while some officers have refused to take charge of the case.
“There is a need to look at this alleged gang rape case more seriously. It is given to understand that even after orders from the senior IPS officers, officers have refused to take charge of this case. We are aware of such cases given to a senior lady officer to investigate with additional support,” VAU in-charge Emidio Pinho said in his letter addressed to the DGP.
The VAU has been assisting the local police in recording the statement of the victim. It is reliably learnt that the woman has been unable to identify the crime scene as yet.
Pinho said that with only a lone PSI probing the matter and shuttling between police stations and courts, she is without any support. “The IO in the present case has been working hard besides other police station duties with no technical support. Her visits to courts, and hospital, are not permitting her to look into the investigation. Delays in the investigation in such cases would lead to the destruction of evidence,” he further said urging Singh to “urgently hand over the case to the Women police station” or constitute a special team headed by lady police officers for investigation.
The IPHB’s report to the Calangute police certified her as “not mentally fit” for recording statements after the local police sought an opinion to produce her before the magistrate for deposition under section 164 of the CrPC.
