According to news agency PTI, a police station house officer (SHO) in Uttar Pradesh’s Lalitpur (UP) has been suspended for allegedly rapping a 13-year-old girl who had been allegedly gangraped by four people and had gone to the police station to file a complaint.
Three of the accused have been apprehended by the police after a FIR was filed against five people, including the SHO, who has been suspended and is currently on the run.
The case was filed at Pali police station, where the minor was kidnapped by four men and taken to Bhopal on April 22, where she was allegedly raped, according to news agency ANI. She eventually escaped and returned to her home, where she went to the police station to file a complaint. According to ANI, the station in-charge allegedly raped the teenager before handing her over to the Childline Welfare Committee.
The NGO approached the police superintendent, who intervened and a FIR was filed on Tuesday.
Bhanu Bhaskar, additional director general of police for Kanpur zone, said DIG Jogendra Kumar of Jhansi has been asked to investigate the matter and submit a report within 24 hours.
According to senior police officials, the FIR was filed in response to the victim’s complaint.
“All policemen of Pali police station in Lalitpur have been sent to police lines while the SHO has been suspended,” Bhaskar said, adding that the guilty cops will face harsh punishment.
“The FIR was lodged under various sections of the IPC, including 363 (kidnapping), 376 (rape), 376 B (intercourse by public servant with woman in his custody), 120 B (conspiracy), POCSO Act, and SC/ST Act,” the police said in a statement.
The DIG has been told to stay in Lalitpur until the case is resolved, according to ADG (law and order) Prasant Kumar in Lucknow.
