New Delhi: Accusing the Delhi Police of refusing to act in time in the suspected rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Delhi, Brinda Karat, CPI (M) Polit Bureau member, in her letter to Union home minister Amit Shah requested him to ensure justice is done for the family.
Karat, along with Nathu Parshad and Asha Sharma, Delhi CPI (M) secretariat members, visited the village and spoke to the girl’s family members and locals on Wednesday, August 4.
In her letter addressed to the Union home minister, she raised the “questionable role” of the Delhi Police, which reports to the Shah. “Although four people have been arrested in this case, the role of the police in Sadar Thana Cantonment area is shocking, to say the least,” Karat said.
Also read: Delhi: Dalit Girl’s Family Alleges She Was Raped, Murdered By Priest, Crematorium Workers
One, she said the girl was “forcibly” cremated when the girl’s mother was in a state of shock, although according to local customs, a young girl is buried, but not cremated. “[A] lie is being spread that the mother agreed to the cremation,” she said, adding that it is reminiscent of what happened in the Hathras case. “There [in Hathras] the police themselves cremated the victim. Here the police refused to act in time,” Karat said.
Two, she also drew attention to the fact that the girl’s parents, who were in utter shock, were illegally detained by local police for several hours. “This is inhuman and totally illegal,” the letter said.
Three, the family was not allowed to file a first information report (FIR) until there were protests from the community. Four, the police did not use the correct sections including those under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“The crime of the child is that she belongs to a poor, Dalit, homeless family. She went to get drinking water from the cooler in the cremation ground,” Karat said.
Stating that locals had told her that “powerful elements” were involved in the case, who want the accused to be protected, Karat in her letter to Shah said, “It is indeed regrettable that you have not intervened yet in this case although the Delhi police are directly under your Ministry. My request is that you kindly ensure that justice is done.”
She demanded the government provide financial assistance and take immediate action against the police officers involved in the case. “The message of justice for the child must go out loud and strong,” Karat said.
On Sunday, August 1, the girl was allegedly raped and murdered when she went to fetch from a water cooler near a crematorium in Delhi’s Cantonment area. According to her family, she was raped and murdered by a priest and three employees of a crematorium. The four men were arrested on the night of August 2 after the girl’s family and others staged a protest.