The Vakapalli rape victims have submitted a memorandum to the District Collector urging the right to select the public prosecutor and the assistant public prosecutor of their choice to fight their case in the special court in Visakhapatnam that handles cases under the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
On August 20, 2007, 11 Adivasi women of Vakapalli village in Nurmati panchayat of G. Madugula mandal in the Agency region of the district, were allegedly gang-raped by 21 personnel of the Greyhounds, the elite anti-Naxal force of AP.
SC directive
Since then the victims have been running from pillar to post to get justice. They moved the Supreme Court, which on September 1 ordered the fast-tracking of the case. The victims pointed out that the SC, ST (POA) Act empowers the government to appoint an exclusive special public prosecutor so desired by the victims.
The victims in their petition demanded the appointment of Palla Trinadha Rao, advocate, Rajahmundry, as special public prosecutor, and Jaha Ara, advocate, Visakhapatnam, as assistant public prosecutor.
“It is our right,” said Pangi Sridevi, one of the victims.
She pointed out that though the incident took place over a decade ago, trial is yet to start.
