Goa Police officer being probed for refusing to book rape

An inquiry against a police sub-inspector, who refused to register a case of rape of a 10-year-old girl by her father last week saying it was a "family matter", is nearing completion, a senior officer said Monday.

"The inquiry is in the final stages. We will be acting on the report by the end of this week," the police official said.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested Saturday for raping his 10-year-old daughter and filming it on his mobile phone at Bicholim, a mining town located 20 km from Panaji.

The father is a West Bengal native, according to the First Information Report (FIR) lodged at the Women's Police Station.

The daughter had complained that her father raped her several times over the last few years and on many occasions also filmed the act.

Accompanied by her mother, the girl went to the local Bicholim police station after the latest instance of rape by her father, where the police sub-inspector, now under inquiry, refused to register the FIR, dismissing the criminal act as a "family matter".

The refusal was brought to light by a women's rights activist, Sabina Martins, reported the criminal assault on the child to North Goa Superintendent of Police Priyanka Kashyap.

"The police have promised action following the inquiry in the delay in registration of FIR," Martins said.