March in Patiala on January 6 to demand arrest of gang-rape accused

SIT constituted over 18 months after assault on 13-year-old Dalit girl

Accusing Punjab police of a sluggish approach towards arresting the accused in the alleged gang-rape case of a 13-year-old Dalit girl, the National Scheduled Castes Alliance, an NGO, has decided to organise a march in Patiala on January 6. Meanwhile, a special investigating team has been set up to investigate the case.

NSCA president Paramjit Kainth said the incident took place in SAS Nagar district on July 3, 2016, but the three accused in the case are yet to be arrested. The police say they are “absconding” as of now.

‘Political pressure’

“This march is to raise our voice against the injustice meted out to the 13-year-old gang-rape victim and her family because of political pressure on the police to shield the culprits,” claimed Mr. Kainth, adding, “In a sensitive issue such as this, the government is maintaining a silence. We are coordinating our efforts for justice to prevail in this case.”

On Thursday, the Inspector General of Police (Patiala Zone) constituted a special investigation team under Kanwaldeep Kaur, Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Patiala. The three-member all-woman team has been asked to investigate the case thoroughly and present its report as soon as possible.

No arrest

“The girl belongs to the Scheduled Caste community and hence no organisation or government official has been taking the issue seriously,” alleged Mr. Kainth. He said the NSCA had met the IGP (Patiala Zone) in December to impress upon him the fact that the police had not charged the accused under Section 376 D of the IPC (gang rape) and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

“Later these sections were added, but the accused are yet to be arrested,” he said.