Govt may consider CBI probe in shelter home rape-murder case

Parliamentarians today expressed anguish over the alleged rape of girls and a murder in a state-run shelter home at Muzaffarpur in Bihar, with the Centre saying it could consider ordering a CBI probe if the state government makes a recommendation.

Members of opposition parties, including the Congress and the RJD, raised the issue during Zero Hour in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Congress member Ranjeet Ranjan expressed concern over the alleged cases of young girls being forced into prostitution. While mentioning the Muzaffarpur matter, she also demanded a CBI probe into such cases.

In response, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said it was a serious issue.

"If there is a recommendation from the state government, then the Centre will consider ordering a CBI probe into the matter," Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

RJD member Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav also raised the issue in the Lower House and alleged that there was lawlessness in Bihar.

In the Rajya Sabha, RJD member Manoj Kumar Jha said "a chilling incident" had occured in Muzaffarpur where more than 40 'Nirbhayas' have been abused.

He was comparing the victims to Nirbhaya, the girl who was brutally raped and murdered in Delhi in December 2012.

The RJD member also expressed concern over reports of sexual assaults against women being reported from different parts of the country.

As Jha demanded CBI probe in the Muzaffarpur case, a JD (U) member said the Bihar government has already started an investigation.

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu termed the incident as "very serious".

Medical reports have suggested that more than half of the 40 girls, lodged at the shelter home, may have been subjected sexual intercourse at some point, police had said earlier.

The inmates of the shelter home have also alleged that one of their fellow inmates was beaten to death and buried at the premises of the facility, while several others were raped.

Following the allegations, the Bihar Police has launched a probe and dug up the ground at the shelter home.