Madras High Court today directed police to shift within a week four accused involved in the gang rape of a hearing and speech impaired girl from Hosur sub-jail to Salem central prison to ensure that "there is no interference by any person" with the victim's family or her.
Justice T S Sivagnanam issued the direction to the Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station of Denkanikotta of Krishnagiri District on a petition filed by the victim's father, a labourer and file appropriate report and posted the matter for further direction to February 13.
The judge also directed police to subject her to Medical Examination by a woman doctor at Dharmapuri Headquarters Hospital. The judge also directed the District collector to pay Rs.20,000 to the father, not by way of compensation, but as an ad hoc amount.
The court had on January 21 questioned the Inspector to show cause in writing why the case should not be transferred from their file. In the counter filed by the Inspector, it was stated that the girl had deposed before the Judicial Magistrate on December 31 last and she had stated that she was enquired by police at the government hospital.
The girl was raped by unknown persons on December 25 after she was beaten on the head with a log.
Advocate General A.L. Somayaji submitted that four accused have been arrested and they are in judicial custody and lodged in Hosur sub-Jail Hosur since January 1.
The judge said since the court seized of the matter and to ensure that "there is no interference by any person" with the family of the victim or with her, it is of the view that the accused, who are presently in the sub-jail, Hosur should be shifted to some other place outside Krishnagiri District."
When the father went to the All Women Police Station to give complaint, they refused to take it citing absence of an Inspector of Police and only an entry was made that the girl was admitted in the hospital.
However, after agitations by All India Democratic Women's Association and Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled the father and the girl were taken to Hosur in the guise of a Medical Test but were taken to the Hosur All Women Police Station at midnight on new year day.
There the girl was subjected to harassment by police officials. Meanwhile, the heads of four villages of the surrounding area ex-communicated the family of the victim for not settling the issue.
Hence, the father of the girl approached the High Court with a prayer to transfer the probe on both gang rape and ex-communication of his family to the CBI.
