THANJAVUR:Research officer of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) C Chandraprabha and A Iniyan, investigator, made a spot inspection about the rape and murder of Dalit girl R Kalaiselvi (20) from Saliyamangalam here.
They visited the house of Pappammal, maternal aunt at Saliyamangalam ,where Kalaiselvi lived, and the area behind her house where she was found murdered on August 1. The previous evening, she went outside to attend nature’s call as there was no toilet at home. The NCSC officers held inquiries with Pappammal, M Rajendran, father of the girl and other relatives.
After visiting the victim family, Chandraprabha said the commission received petitions about the rape and murder of the girl. The provisions of the SC, ST (prevention of atrocities) Act have been invoked and the relief amount of `4,12,500 was distributed, she added.
“The remaining amount of `4,12,500 will be distributed after filing charge sheet,” she said. As the absence of a toilet at the house led to the girl venturing into the bushes, where she was raped and murdered, the district administration recently built two toilets in the area, she pointed out. When asked about not invoking section 376 (d) (gang rape) of IPC by the police as two caste-Hindus were involved in the rape crime, Chandraprabha said it would be looked into.
Earlier, the family of the victim said the two caste-Hindus who were involved in the crime should not be let out of jail. They also wanted house site patta and a house from the government, besides a government job for the girl’s sibling.
The NCSC team was accompanied by Mantri Govinda Rao, Assistant Collector, Kumbakonam. Later, the NCSC members held a discussion with District Collector A Annadurai and Superintendent of Police J Mahesh. A team of Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) including Chinnai Pandian, District secretary, presented a petition demanding the slapping of section 376 (d) as two persons were involved in the crime.