How long does it take for the test results of samples sent to Bangalore, in a gang-rape case, to reach the investigating officers in Hubli? Hard to tell, if the case registered 11 months ago is anything to go by.
The gang-rape case of a 46-year-old railway employee was reported on August 2, 2013, and the Hubli-Dharwad police are still “waiting” for the results of samples sent for forensic tests to Bangalore. Their standard answer every time a question is asked is: “It is the only such centre and there will be a long queue.”
Even as there is public outrage in Bangalore over inspector Mohammed Rafiq’s (now suspended) failure to register a rape case at the Pulakeshinagar Police Station, instances of police inaction, tardiness or even connivance with the culprits are not uncommon across the State.
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In a case of chid rape reported on June 29 in Hubli, three constables are facing charges of tampering with evidence. The relatives of the victim handed the 55-year-old accused to the police, but no action has been taken since and some witnesses have received threat calls. Residents believe that the constables tampered with the evidence by replacing the clothes worn by the accused.
In Belgaum, sub-inspector A.K. Nadaf was caught while allegedly attempting to rape an 18-year-old girl in a lodge in the city on March 26. He is now in custody.
Early last year in Bidar, the National Human Rights Commission intervened in the rape case of a five-year-old girl in the Halasur Police Station limits. It issued notice to the district police chief. The girl was seriously injured and was admitted to a Hyderabad hospital and underwent surgery. However, despite the NHRC directive, the arrest of the accused and trial began only last week.
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The Statewide uproar over instances of sexual assault on women has had some positive impact in Hassan. The Hassan police, who had delayed registering a case related to a minor girl for several weeks, registered it on July 19.
The girl was raped, allegedly by a youth a few months ago, but the family came to know about it only after she became pregnant. An Arkalgud-based non-governmental organisation learnt about the incident in June and informed the Child Welfare Committee.
Though the committee filed a complaint 15 days ago, the complaint was registered on July 19. Arkalgud sub-inspector Revanna told The Hindu that the CWC had sent the complaint, but the information provided in the complaint was insufficient. “We have now registered a case and sent a notice to the CWC to furnish further details.”
(Compiled by Bageshree S. with inputs from Girish Pattanashetti in Hubli, Vijaykumar Patil in Belgaum, Rishikesh Bahadur Desai in Bidar, and Sathish G.T. in Hassan)