Haryana Police admit there are ‘victims’ at Murthal

In a departure from its earlier stand on the Murthal rape case, the Haryana Police admitted the existence of “victims” before the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the first time.

Amicus curiae (friend of the court) Anupam Gupta claimed he had information on the “rape” of two relatives of a Punjab Raj Bhawan employee during the Jat stir. He sought action against top police and civil officers for not coming out with the truth.

The three-hour proceedings before a Division Bench gave indications that the police were in the process of tracking down a victim, an NRI whose letter on the social media had gone viral. She had alleged that she was raped near Murthal on February 21. She also gave names of relatives who had “arrived with her”.

As the case came up for resumed hearing before Justices SS Saron and Gurmit Ram this morning, an Additional Advocate-General appearing for Haryana sought permission to keep the status report submitted by the police in a sealed cover since it contained information on the “victims”.

Though the report perused by the Bench was sealed again, the arguments that followed hinted at efforts to contact the NRI victim.

Gupta said he was a “trifle disappointed” as apart from efforts to get in touch with the NRI, the report was nothing but an elaboration of the steps indicated in the previous report. He said ever since the initiation of proceedings, information on rapes was trickling in, including reports on  the “rape” of two relatives of a Raj Bhawan employee.

Hinting at police laxity, Gupta asked, “Why could they not contact the reporter who had published the interview of a victim?” He pointed out that the notice to journalists by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for information on the Murthal mayhem instead of contacting them was a sign of ineptness. “Notices are issued when police officials do not wish to act,” he insisted.

Referring to the deposition by Murthal-based Sukhdev Dhaba owner Amrik Singh, Gupta claimed he had been silenced by the Inspector General of Police, the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police. “If the police say Amrik Singh did not see anything, it is mighty shameful… let the coercive powers of the police be used. Amrik Singh should be picked up… let the police tell the court what action it has taken against the IG, SP and DC concerned, all those who were there and escorted the raped and molested women? They know everything… have these officials been examined,” asked Gupta.