Bhandara rape case: Cops & docs to be sensitized about SOPs

Nagpur: Admitting that there were many discrepancies while investigating the rape case of 35-year-old woman at Bhandara, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday assured that police and doctors would be sensitized again in following standard operating procedure (SOP) while handling crimes against women, particularly rape cases.
Replying to a debate on crimes against women in the legislative council, the Southwest Nagpur MLA said SOPs should be strictly followed by both police and medical fraternity while dealing with such cases. “The survivor is being provided good treatment and was also counselled to come out of fear-psychosis. A thorough inquiry is underway in the case and we will not spare anyone. The probe would not be completed unless the third accused Shreeram Urkude, as named by her, is arrested. The government would take very strict action against all the culprits.”
Terming the incident “shameful”, Fadnavis flayed officials at Bhandara Rural police station at Kardha for allowing the survivor to escape from their premises. “She left in the morning under the pretext of going to have tea. She should not have been allowed to walk away, as she was already suffering. As she failed to return, the police should have searched for her. But even as she reached the adjoining village on foot, the cops there made no efforts to find her.”
Flaying the police for this serious lapse, Fadnavis, who is handling the home portfolio, said the government had already suspended police sub-inspector and assistant inspector of Kardha, and also taken action against the lady police constable there, who counselled the survivor in the night.
“We have constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident. We have already nabbed Mohammed Ansari and Amit Sarve alias Lukka, a labourer, for the crime. We have searched for many drivers with the name Urkude. One man was found in Yavatmal, but he is 18-year-old. Another was found in Balaghat, but he was in jail. We have readied the third accused’s sketch and inquiry is underway to nab him,” he said.