The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Friday put the blame squarely on the police and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Kollam for the “utter abandonment and neglect” of the sexual assault victim in Kundara that resulted in the 11-year-old girl’s “suicide” on January 15.
The Commission heavily censured the police primarily for according scarce priority to the case despite being presented with overwhelming forensic evidence that the child had been repeatedly sexually exploited. The police had also come under severe public criticism for ignoring the findings of the incriminating post-mortem examination report.
The uproar had caused the removal of two local officers from their posts. The Government was forced to admit in the Assembly that there were lapses on the part of the police in investigating the minor’s death.
In his order, the Commission chastised DySP, Kottarakara, B. Krishnakumar for “ignoring” its direction to investigate the case. Mr. Krishnakumar filed no report nor did he present himself before the Commission as directed. The SHRC has opened a separate enquiry against Mr. Krishnakumar.
The Commission also ordered the Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Nalini Netto, to honestly evaluate Mr. Krishnakumar’s actions. It directed the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to report what succour the agency had extended to the victim. IG Manoj Abraham has been tasked to file a report on the actions of the Kundara police in the case.
In a direct and uncompromising order, SHRC member P. Mohankumar said the minor’s death had exposed the failure on the part of the police and the CWC to provide support, including security and counselling, to the victim and her family.
The legal mechanisms to support victims of sexual assault, especially minors, seemed to exist only in paper in Kollam district. If they had worked for the victim, her life would not have ended in tragedy, the Commission said.
