Murthal gangrapes: HC appoints Anupam Gupta as amicus curiae

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday appointed advocate Anupam Gupta as amicus curiae in the case of the alleged gangrapes in Murthal near Sonepat, during the Jat reservation protests.

The High Court has set March 14, as next date of hearing in the case.

Amicus curiae is a friend of the court; it is the one who is not a party to a case and offers information that bears on the case, but who has not been solicited by any of the parties to assist a court.

The Manohar Lal Khattar-Government today filed a status report in the high court on reported mass rapes after the court had sought the same from the Haryana Director General of Police and the Home Secretary by today.

The High Court took suo motto cognizance of the issue after it emerged that some women passengers were allegedly raped near Murthal in Sonipat during the Jat agitation and said that victims of the alleged sexual assault could file complaints directly with chief judicial magistrates, instead of going to the police.

The Haryana Police had yesterday confirmed that it received a call from the woman on Saturday morning and her statement was recorded on Sunday.

"An FIR has been lodged against seven persons in connection with a gangrape on the basis of a complaint filed by a Narela-based woman today," Haryana Police, DIG, Rajshree Singh told reporters.

Earlier, some locals, including truck drivers, had claimed they had seen women being dragged to the fields by the protesters. TV channels showed footage of garments worn by women strewn in some places.