Urgent need for sensitisation on date rape drugs: Delhi court

Expressing concern over the increase in number of cases where women are administered drugs and then sexually exploited, a Delhi court has said stressed on the need for sensitising people on the issue of "date rape drugs". Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau made this observation while awarding 10 years jail term to a youth for raping a girl after giving her drugs and blackmailing her by making indecent videos. The judge observed that there has been an increase in number of cases where women have been administered drugs and sexually exploited thereafter. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on the 26-year-old Delhi resident Harish. It said the country's criminal justice system is "not as updated" as it should be and there is an urgent need to sensitise the investigating officers, prosecutors, hospital staff and public on the aspect of "date rape drugs". It said that testing of date rape drugs should be made a compulsory part of the rape kit while collecting exhibits in the hospital. "Forensic laboratories are yet to be suitably equipped with techniques and personnel's possessing the expertise for conducting specific tests for establishing the presence of the date rape drugs in cases relating to sexual assault," it said. According to the prosecution, the 20-year-old girl who was pursuing her graduation here came in contact with Mangol Puri resident Harish when she gave her mobile phone to him for repair. They maintained contacts and came closer through phone and social networking sites. In October 2011, the accused offered her cold drink and after consuming it, she felt dizzy and on the pretext of taking her to a doctor, he took her to a house in Rohini where he raped her, it said. The police said the victim was not in a position to resist him as she was under the influence of drugs mixed in her drink. After the incident, Harish showed her a video clipping which he claimed he had shot during a series of sexual acts with her, it said.