Why Delhi Police cannot punish rapists?

New Delhi, Dec 22: Most of the Delhi Police personnel know only how to swing a lathi as its force is involved in security work of the capital's VVIPs and VIPs.

They stand guard, carry errands for their masters and hooked to mobile phones. They are happy to do this kind of guard duty as their masters and protectees can get things done like favours of a school admission or resolving a property dispute. Since, only about 20 percent to 30 percent of the police force is in touch with reality of a common man's life, the police simply do not develop skills to tackle the problems faced by the public.

Even the Delhi High Court and the Delhi chief minister expressed unhappiness over handling of current rape case notwithstanding the amount of praise showered by the home secretary.

The high court pulled up the police for being "evasive" in its probe status report in providing details of its officers on patrol duty in the area covered by the bus in which the young paramedical girl was gangraped for about 40 minutes in South Delhi.

"In the (earlier) order, the police commissioner was also directed to file a report giving details of the police officers patrolling in the area and the action taken in this aspect. On this aspect, a report is filed... We have gone through the report and we are not convinced. None of the details of the police officers has been mentioned. We will write in our order that a comprehensive report is not filed," a bench headed by Chief Justice D Murugesan said.

But more damning remark of the court was the manner of investigation, which is crucial for building up the case and eventual punishment.

The police claim of "sufficient evidence" did not convince the court and the bench pointed out the sorry state of Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), on which the police is heavily banking.

The judges said, "In our last order, we specifically mentioned that the director of the CFSL will furnish the report without any delay in this case, but there is no director in the lab."

The bench added that though there are two deputy directors in the CFSL, they were incompetent to even conduct a DNA test efficiently. The bench directed the Delhi government to look into the lack of infrastructure and other facility at CFSL so as to provide required assistance to police in investigating the case.

"This leads to delay of one to two years in the investigation. Evidence is lost. They don't accept any sample as there is shortage of chemicals also. If it is so, then please rectify it immediately," the court observed.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said, "I am disappointed with the home secretary's statement that Delhi Police need not be defensive."

She also expected the police to take some action against its personnel in the matter. "I personally think some gesture should be made by the police by suspending somebody. That I am afraid is not yet happening."

She said if the police reported to her, "she would certainly have suspended the person..." She also said that people had no faith in the police. "Nobody fears the police anymore. I feel helpless. Delhi does not control its police," she said.

Union Home Secretary RK Singh applauded the Delhi Police and Commissioner Neeraj Kumar for their swift action and exemplary work, the latter used the joint press conference to showcase the watertight investigation in what he said was a "blind" case.

Even as there is growing clamour for death penalty for the rapists, the home secretary and the commissioner said that the maximum punishment, which is life imprisonment in cases of rape, will be asked for.

"We have sufficient evidence and we will be filing a chargesheet at the earliest without any delay. Trial will also be expedited. Police has done outstanding work in catching the culprits," said Singh.

When the court which relies on evidence is not convinced, how can the Delhi Police chief be trusted to deliver the evidence and nail the rapists?

OneIndia News