HC finds fault with magistrate in gangrape case

Chennai, Aug 17 (PTI) The Madras High Court today foundfault with a judicial magistrate for not filing the findingson alleged abduction and rape of four tribal women by somepolicemen in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district even after fiveyears and asked the principal district judge to look into thematter and file a report. The matter came up for hearing before the First Benchcomprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice RMahadevan. Passing interim orders on a PIL filed by advocate PPugalenthi, the bench said, "One of the aspects which emergesis that the findings of the learned Judicial Magistrate ofThirukkovilur, are still awaited. We fail to understand howeven after five years the findings are still awaited." It then directed the Principal District Judge, Villupuramto look into it. The matter relates to four women belonging to the Irularcommunity, who were allegedly picked up by the police on thenight of November 22, 2011 in a police van from their home atT Mandappam in Thirukkovilur police station limits and takento a nearby eucalyptus grove. They were then taken to Sandhapettai and brought back tothe grove where the woman were allegedly raped by threepolicemen and later sent home. A few days later, one of the victims lodged a complaintwith the police. The Deputy Superintendent of Police, ThirukkovilurSub-Division today filed a status report on the basis of themedical reports and other evidence collected by him whichstated that the allegations of rape and sexual assault by thevictims "are totally contradicted and more or less false". In the report, he mentioned that the medical findings didnot indicate any injury either in their private parts or otherparts that could indicate rape or resistance. However, he made it clear that the investigation hasrevealed that the alleged victims were illegally abducted bythe policemen when they were not required for interrogation. Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against theguilty policemen, he said. The DSP ubmitted that as soon as the findings of the JMare obtained, the final report will be filed. After perusal of the status report, the court said, "Oncethe report is available, it has to be handed over to theinvestigation officer to assist the investigation." The bench then posted the matter for further hearingto September 26. PTI CORR ROH BNSCMVV