Court orders filing of rape case against cops in Bhatta

Noida, Nov 18: A court in Gautam Buddh Nagar ordered registration of a rape and robbery case against 21 police and PAC men on the complaint of a woman from Bhatta Parsaul village where farmers had revolted against acquisition of their land.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had visited Bhatta Parsaul in May to show solidarity with the farmers of the area, had alleged that the women were raped. The order was passed by Chief Judicial Magistrate Vipin Sharma. The woman also alleged robbery by the men in uniform. The woman had alleged rape by police men and PAC on May 7 after farmers had clashed with police.Two farmers and as many policemen were killed in the standoff.

The woman alleged that after the clash their male members had left the village fearing arrest and then police and PAC men raped the women in the village.

Though during initial visits by NHRC and NCW teams, the women had not alleged rape, later seven women had submitted affidavits with National Commission for Scheduled Caste alleging rape.

Earlier, a district court had ordered filing of FIR against 16 PAC men including its commander. After the Allahabad high court had passed strictures, Dankore police had lodged FIR against the 16 PAC men. The court ordered filing of FIR against the then Circle Officer, Dankaur, Uday Veer Singh Khokhar, then Phase-II Station Officer (SO) Anuj Chaudhary, the then Kakore SO Inder Kumar Badola, the then Dankaur SHO Rajeev Kumar, the then Dankaur Police Station beat-incharge, Hemant Kishore Gautam and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) men.

PTI