Sexual assault victims be handled by female police officers:SC

Victims of sexual assault should be handled by female police officers and the probe should be completed at the earliest to avoid the possibility of the accused getting bail on technicalities, the Supreme Court has said.
A bench of justices B S Chauhan and Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla said a sexual assault victim requires a "totally different kind of treatment" from society and the State.
"Certain care has to be taken by the doctor who medically examines the victim of rape. The victim of rape should generally be examined by a female doctor. Simultaneously, she should be provided the help of some psychiatric. The medical report should be prepared expeditiously and the doctor should examine the victim of rape thoroughly and give his/her opinion with all possible angles...

"The Investigating Officer (IO) must ensure that the victim of rape should be handled carefully by a lady police officer, depending upon availability of such officer. The victim should be sent for medical examination at the earliest and her statement should be recorded by the IO in the presence of her family members making the victim comfortable," it said.
The apex court also said investigation into the case "should be completed at the earliest to avoid bail to the accused on technicalities and the final report should also be submitted at the earliest."
The observations were made by the bench while dismissing the appeal of a convict, Dilip, who had challenged the November 2006 order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court which had found him guilty for raping the minor girl, who was his brother's sister-in-law, and awarded him seven years jail term.