PANAJI
With the judiciary taking cognizance of the laxity displayed by Goa police in a case of sexual assault, startling revelations have come to light wherein the underage victim had to recount her traumatic experiences at least seven times before her complaint was finally registered at the Old Goa police station.
The harrowing ordeal is that of a teenager whose father allegedly raped her for several months and forced her to undergo four abortions. After she mustered the courage to confide in her teachers, a friend, and ultimately the police; the victim faced numerous obstacles in getting an FIR registered against her rapist last month.
To investigate the police’s lackadaisical attitude and controversy surrounding the case, the Sessions Court initiated an inquiry under Judge Sherin Paul, calling witnesses to testify. It is revealed during the ongoing testimony that the victim narrated her ordeal not less than seven times before various authorities.
“She confided in her friend, teacher, school counsellor and then to the NGO, women police, Agassaim police and the Old Goa police. Even after this, her complaint was not registered until the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) intervened,” sources said.
As the confusion and controversy originated from the women's police station, the department’s leniency also became evident. Police Inspector Sandhya Gupta who was transferred to police headquarters from Women's PS along with some other policemen involved in the matter, is facing a parallel inquiry headed by a woman superintendent of police.
“Why did the former women's police team not follow up on the matter with the victim or the school counsellor after she was sent back home to answer her exam, why the Agassaim and Old Goa police too did not play a sensitive role, whether there was any laxity on the part of the school higher-ups, etc all being inquired into by the Court as well as the department,” an official said.
A Right To Information (RTI) has revealed that CWC has approached almost all the authorities to ensure justice for the victim highlighting the lack of seriousness exhibited by the police in handling the crime.
“…Social worker/NGO and police investigating officer recording the statement of the child at the police station have misconstrued the statement of the victim. This has resulted in serious violation of the provisions of the POCSO Act thereby rendering the safeguards and provisions mandated under the POCSO Act infructuous apart from the said provisions being totally compromised for reasons best known to the said authorities,” reads an extract of the CWC letter, RTI copy of which is with The Goan.
The CWC headed by Chairperson Esther Torres requested the authorities to look into the matter on priority and consider setting up a high-level inquiry on the role and approach of the police, NGO as well as the school authority to ensure justice to the victim is met.
"We are hopeful that these inquiries are not brushed aside and appropriate action follows," an official said.
