PANJIM: The social organisations are eagerly waiting for inquiries to be conducted paving the way for a possible offence being registered against two erring police inspectors who have been transferred and issued show cause notice for the delay in registering in the rape cases.
While purported “action” against two has been taken in a case of absolute and utter negligence by not registering a rape case and making the victim run from pillar to post, they have not been criminally charged, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 provides for the booking of offences against any persons who don’t report sexual offences against children. However, sources say that the two erring police inspectors, in the case involving a minor girl, who have been suspended and transferred, are yet to face preliminary inquiry or departmental inquiry in the matter, which will lead to a criminal case being registered against them. The inquiries could have been fast-tracked
Advocate Caroline Collasso said, “Rape, especially of minors, is a very traumatic experience. Hence when a victim picks up the courage to seek legal redress, either delay or refusal to register a complaint further victimises a victim. If the inquiry clearly indicates that the police have failed in discharging their duties and acting with the sensitivity a rape victim expects, they should be dealt with sternly as per law.”
Arun Pandey of Anyay Rahit Zindagi (ARZ) an NGO, said: “It is a criminal offence and police is the first agency to respond. It is mandatory for anyone including the police, NGO, journalist, or layman to report the crime against the child. The person who fails to do that is liable to be booked.”
Pandey asked, “Why are you not registering the case? If there was no one to register you could have registered the case yourself? The law is clear.”
Child Welfare Committee (CWC) president Esther Torres said, “The officials have erred in their job and it is with all of us that when we reach a certain high position, we tend to sometimes play mediators or Gods. In this case, the abuse was of the worst nature and they were expected to follow the law.”
“The first point of contact for the children, who have been victimised, is the police and they looked up to the police. We only expect the police to follow the law that is very clear,” she added.
