In an alleged gang-rape of a minor girl has been reported in the state, this time from Jabalpur district, a 15-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped inside her house by three accused, including two minors on June 28 afternoon.
The accused, including an 18-year-old youth and two teenagers, were the friends of the alleged gang-rape survivor girl’s brother. Taking advantage of family members’ absence in the house, the accused trio locked the girl inside her room and gang-raped her. They also threatened to kill her if she reported the matter to parents or police.
The matter was reported by the girl on Monday to her parents after which it was reported to police. All the accused have been arrested and booked for gang rape.
MP CM writes to Chief Justice of India for fast tracking appeals in rape cases
In a related development, the Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has written to the Chief Justice of India, requesting him to expedite the hearing of appeals in rape cases by setting up of Fast Track Higher Courts or making an arrangement in the current hearing system to accord high priority to such cases.
In the letter written on Monday, Chouhan has mentioned “Though, the judiciary has taken every care to establish rule of law and punish the culprits, it’s also our duty to bring peace and harmony in the society. As Honourable CJI, you are aware that the Indore, where the investigation was completed in seven days and trial in another 22 days, but until and unless appeals are decided by the High Courts and the apex court expeditiously, justice cannot be said to be done. I do not say that an accused doesn’t have a right to fair trial, but speedy trial reduces the psychological sufferings of a rape victim and also sets an example for others.”
On the other hand Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Ajay Singh questioned on Tuesday that before writing a letter to the CJI, the MP CM should have first done a reality check about his own past announcements. “After the 2012 New Delhi Nirbhaya gang rape case, the CM had announced constituting fast track court in every district. In 2013 also, the CM had announced establishing establishing 52 sessions and 86 lower courts for hearing the cases of crime against women. The CM, before writing to the CJI, should first take stock and answer whether he fulfilled his own announcements or not.”
Singh also alleged that even the medical treatment of the four year old rape survivor girl in Satna was started at the hospital ten hours after the ghastly incident and that too when local Congress MLA Yadvendra Singh went to the hospital and met the doctors personally.