CHANDIGARH: The recent Jat agitation in Haryana witnessed not only large scale violence, but also horrific instances of gang-rapes.
According to reports, as many as 10 women were dragged out of their cars and raped at Marthal, in Sonepat, during the Jat quota agitation.
Despite tell-tale evidences that clothes of the gang-rape victims were strewn at the spot, the police chose to stay in denial. After pressure started building up, the State government on Friday formed a team of three women police officers to probe charges of gang-rape at Marthal. The police have asked the public to share evidence. They have assured them that their identities will not be disclosed.
Haryana Director General of Police, Yashpal Singhal said, “No complaint of sexual assault has been filed so far. It was unclear if the incident was linked to the Jat agitation.”
A team of three women officers — one DIG rank officer Rajshree Singh and two women DSPs, Bharti Dabas and Surinder Kaur — has been constituted to investigate the alleged incidents.
All India Democratic Women’s Association has demanded a high-level probe into the incident.
AIDWA president Malini Bhattacharya and general secretary Jagmati Sangwan said the delegation interacted with villagers and roadside dhaba owners who appeared to be terrorised. Malini said the incident came to light after the police tried to muzzle the victims and their families from lodging complaints.