AIPWA slams police for failing to protect Mau riot victims

Lucknow, Oct 16 (UNI) The All India Progressive Women's Association today slammed the Uttar Pradesh police for failing to protect two women raped during last year's Mau riots despite a High Court order.

Addressing a press conference, AIPWA members alleged that their 'fact-finding' team which had visited Mau found that Mohd Muslim, who had recently moved the Allahabad High Court, had not been provided protection despite court orders.

Muslim had alleged that his wife and daughter were raped by rioters during last year's communal flare up in the eastern UP town.

''We would also meet the state DGP Bua Singh and ask him for reasons behind not following court orders,'' Association's national vice-president Tahira Hasan said.

The organisation also alleged that despite an announcement of compensation by the state government, the family was yet to receive anything. ''This is a systematic effort to break the economic backbone of the victims,'' she added.

The Allahabad High Court had recently ordered a CBI inquiry into an alleged incident of rape and loot during the communal riots in Mau district last year.

The order for CBI probe was passed by Justice Barkat Ali Zaidi on a petition by Farzana Khatoon and her husband Mohd Muslim, who alleged that some rioters had barged into their house, raped the wife and their daughter and decamped with valuables on October 15.

Earlier, they had moved the court alleging that despite repeated pleas, their statement was not being recorded before a magistrate under section 164 of CrPC, following which the court directed Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mau to transfer the investigation from Kotwali to some other police station and to get the petitioners' statement recorded.

Asking the Director, CBI, to submit a progress report within 60 days, the court fixed December four for further hearing and also directed SSP, Mau to ensure adequate protection for the petitioners and their family.

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