Double victimisation of a rape survivor!

There cannot be a more distressing situation than a rape victim finding herself in a situation of double jeopardy, being wronged twice. It is even more disturbing to see that one of the sources of her agony is the very agency that is supposed to provide her legal succour. The victim had to lodge a court case directly because the police had refused to register the case when she went to lodge a FIR with the Bochaganj PS of Dinajpur, more than a year and a half ago.

The irony is that the victim's brother has now been put behind bars on the trumped-up charge of raping her. And all this because the victim had resisted continual pressure from the police to withdraw the case since the very beginning.

The actions of the police in this matter, we are constrained to say, are not only despicable but are likely to damage the reputation of the whole institution, which is under criticism for several such instances. But this has, perhaps, surpassed all the other cases of police harassment, victimisation of the helpless and corruption. And this contrasts with the claim of the home minister that the police are now a more people-friendly force.

However, we are heartened by the new IGP's assurance that the force would be made people-friendly and all the lacunae would be removed. That we believe is a gradual process, and we look forward to the changes being effected. But we would request the inspector general, given the gravity of the matter, to investigate this particular case of serious transgressions of law and dereliction of duty by the errant police officers, and set an example. Words must be translated into demonstrated actions, and in this particular case, what action the police authorities take would be a matter of public scrutiny.