The parliamentarians asked Home Minister Bhim Rawal and Law and Justice Minister Prem Bahadur Singh on what grounds the three policemen were released while the policewoman, who was gang raped by her colleagues inside a police office in Achham district, has been saying consistently that all six policemen had gang-raped her. Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Women, Children and Social Welfare quizzed the ministers at a meeting of the committee on Wednesday.
The Home Ministry had suspended policemen Dan Singh Bhandari, Hira Dutta Badu, Naribhan Mahatara, Karbir Thalal, Birendra Bam and Jagadish Pandey after the victim accused them of raping her some three months ago. But later Bhandari, Badu and Mahatara were released while the other three remain under custody.
Rawal said the three policemen were released on the recommendation of the district attorney´s office. But Law Minister Singh said the district attorney made the recommendation on the basis of a report from the district police office.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Parbati Thapa, who is involved in probing the case, and the rape victim on Tuesday briefed the parliamentary committee about the incident. Giving a harrowing account of the dreadful incident the victim told the parliamentarians that all six policemen had gang-raped her.
Sub-committee formed
After hearing the victim´s painful narration and finding the two ministers´ versions contradictory, the parliamentary committee formed a sub-committee.
Members of the sub-committee are Binod Pahadi, Malamati Rana, Lila Subba, Hira Gurung, Him Kumari Sunar, Sita Poudel and Shantidevi Kumal. The first meeting of the panel will nominate its coordinator.
The sub-committee will submit a detailed report within a month after digging out details concerning the incident.
All the lawmakers urged the ministers to take the incident seriously, arguing that a policewoman´s rape at her own workplace gives out a very bad message to the public. Majority of members speaking at the meeting expressed their common concern to the home minister. "Everyone will raise the obvious question what about the general public if the state fails to provide security to the security personnel themselves."
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