SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, March 30: Taking serious note of the alleged rape and brutal murder of a 12-year-old girl in Hazaribagh, the Jharkhand High Court has sharply questioned the police investigation, highlighting that no arrests have been made even five days after the FIR was registered.
A division bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Anubha Rawat Choudhary took suo motu cognisance of the incident, which took place in the Vishnugarh police station area, and converted it into a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
Court Questions Delay in Arrest
During the hearing, the court was informed that the crime occurred on March 24 and the FIR was lodged on March 25. However, the Superintendent of Police (SP), Hazaribagh, admitted that no accused has been arrested so far.
The court expressed concern over the delay, observing that in a case of such heinous nature, failure to arrest the accused even after five days raises serious questions about the investigation.
Lapses in Forensic Procedure Flagged
The bench also took strong exception to the delay in sending crucial evidence to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). While the police informed the court that samples had been collected, they had not yet been sent for forensic examination.
The court noted that keeping key evidence with the investigating officer instead of sending it promptly for analysis could lead to tampering and reflect poorly on the investigation process.
Allegations of Threats to Victim’s Family
The court was also informed that the victim’s mother, who works at a brick kiln, is allegedly being threatened, and there are attempts to influence or tamper with evidence.
Taking a serious view, the bench stressed the need to ensure immediate protection for the victim’s family and key witnesses.
Notices to Top Officials
The High Court has issued notices to the Jharkhand Director General of Police (DGP), Home Secretary, and the SP of Hazaribagh, directing them to file affidavits explaining the lapses, particularly the delay in arrest and forensic procedures.
The court also directed the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) to coordinate with district authorities and the investigating agency to prevent any tampering of evidence.
Warning of strict accountability, the court stated that any harm to the victim’s family or witnesses would lead to personal responsibility being fixed on the Hazaribagh SP.
The matter has been referred to the Chief Justice for further hearing.
Aditya Sahu Slams Brutality, Terms Crime “Rarest of Rare
Meanwhile, BJP Jharkhand President Aditya Sahu said that the incident, in which the daughter of Kusumba—who had gone out to join a Ram Navami Mangalwari procession—was raped and later brutally murdered, reflects extreme brutality. He alleged that the accused mutilated the body in a barbaric manner, gouging out her eyes, breaking her teeth, and severing her tongue. Sahu termed the crime as falling in the “rarest of the rare” category.