DCW seeks status report from Delhi Police on US woman gangrape

Taking a suo moto cognizance of the gangrape of a 30-year-old American tourist in here early this year, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Monday has sent a notice to Delhi Police, seeking a status report of the case.

The DCW also sought to know why police did not inform the panel's Rape Crisis Cell when the victim's statements were recorded by police on December 20.

"Such instances defame India. Confidence of women in police decreases. Police should have obeyed directions of High Court and called DCW counsellor," DCW chief Swati Maliwal tweeted.

In a notice sent to Deputy Commissioner of Police of New Delhi district, Maliwal said that the commission got to know, through news reports, that the victim has found the investigation process of the case unsatisfactory.

"The Commission is deeply saddened to note that in this case the Delhi Police did not inform the Rape Crisis Cell counsellor of the commission when the victim's statements were recorded by the police on December 20. This is a very serious matter and a gross violation of the directives of the Delhi High Court," the notice said.

The Delhi High Court had ordered that the duty officer, immediately, upon receipt of the complaint/information of a rape case, intimate the same to the Rape Crisis Cell/Crisis Intervention Centre which will respond to calls of sexual assault at the police station and provide counselling and other support services to victims of rape.

"Please inform the Commission the reasons for not informing the Rape Crisis Cell and also provide status report in the case latest by January 3," the notice said.

Delhi Police has registered an FIR early this month on the complaint of an American woman who was allegedly gang-raped at a luxury hotel here in March.

The FIR was registered after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asked Delhi Police to take action and said those guilty won't be spared.

--IANS

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