Brinda Karat, Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), on Friday charged the Tamil Nadu police with not taking action against those involved in the gang-rape of a tribal girl in Krishnagiri district.
Ms. Karat, who met Director General of Police Ashok Kumar at his office on Friday demanding a reinvestigation of the case, told reporters that the local police should be arrested and jailed under Section 166 of the Indian Penal Code for not implementing the law. A 16-year-old hearing and speech impaired tribal girl was gang-raped allegedly by four youths on December 25 in the backyard of her farm when she was returning home after giving food to her father. The parents took the girl to the Dharmapuri Government Hospital, where she remained unattended for five days. It was only when a non-governmental organisation intervened, the Anjetti Police Station registered a case under Section 354 of IPC (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty). Following protests, it was altered to Section 376 (D).
Ms. Karat said the complaint should have been registered under Section 5 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
