What's fate of cops involved in kidnap, rape of four tribal women, asks Madras HC

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the state government to inform it the fate of police officers allegedly involved in the kidnap and rape of four tribal women on November 26, 2011, in Thirukovilur.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R. Mahadevan also directed the registrar (judicial) to look into the issue of non-performance of the judicial magistrate, Thirukovilur, over the cause of delay and submit a report to the court.

The bench posted to November 3, further hearing of the PIL filed by P. Pugalenthi, director of Prisoners Rights Forum, which sought action against the police personnel allegedly involved in the kidnap and rape of four tribal women. The PIL also sought to transfer the investigation into the incident to the CBI.

When the case came up for hearing on Monday, government pleader submitted that the report of the magistrate has been received. He will forward the same to the concerned investigation officer and obtain appropriate instructions. Following this, the bench gave the above directives.

In his report, the then judicial magistrate submitted that he enquired all victims separately and submitted a report. It was confessed by the victims that they were asked to remove their cloths by the police, who had taken them on November 26, 2011. When they refused, the police forcibly removed their cloths and molested them. While, taking them to the police station, no woman police accompanied them and no rules were adhered to. Even though the medical reports did not confirm rape, the confession by the victims and evidence of witnesses and circumstances lead to conclude that there were reasons to believe that sexual assault had occurred. The police took the victims to the police station without assigning any reason, he added.

When the case came up for hearing on August 17, the bench had expressed its anguish over the delay in finalizing the report by the judicial magistrate, even after five years of the incident and directed the Principal district judge, villupuram to place before it the report of the judicial magistrate, Thirukovilur.