India: Police investigation into 10-year-old rape case stopped by victim's family

Patna: A family in Bihar was left shocked when police began investigating a rape incident which occurred 10 years ago involving their then 17-year-old daughter. The family asked the police not to proceed as it could now spoil her married life.

The victim was alone in her rented flat in Muzaffarpur district when a local youth barged into the house and raped and assaulted her.

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Subsequently, the victim’s family alerted police stations and the offices of senior police officials seeking action but the demands went unnoticed until the case was finally registered on August 22, 2010. However, it remained pending until now.

Meanwhile, the victim was married off to a suitable boy and the couple is said to now have a happy life.

But after Muzaffarpur's superintendent of police, Neeraj Singh, found the case pending for a decade he ordered for the submittal of a final report. An investigation began and police tried to record a statement of the victim but the father pleaded for them not to proceed as it would destroy her marriage.

He also requested the police to close the case saying the accused had left the area long back and there is nothing that needed investigation.

“This is a perfect case of ‘justice delayed is justice denied’. Such incidents weaken the faith of the people in the system,” said senior lawyer Dr. Sangita Shahi. “The government should initiate severe punitive action against the previous investigating officer who showed no interest in the case and allowed it to linger.”

Bihar has been flooded with rape cases despite all the talk by the government to establish a rule of law in the state. According to a report compiled by the state police department, a total of 11,759 rape cases were reported in the past 10 years while in the past five years, altogether 6,848 rape cases were reported.

This year alone, as many as 676 rape cases have been reported till June, which means an average three rape incidents are taking place every day.

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