Amid outrage, 6-yr-old rape victim buried

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, October 23

Anger among residents of Jalalpur village in Tanda block was palpable today as the body of a six-year-old Dalit girl, who was raped and murdered, was laid to rest at the village cemetery here today.

The girl’s partially burnt body was found from the cattle shed of the suspects — Surpreet Singh and his grandfather Surjit Singh (both arrested) — two days ago.

As the body arrived at the village, people assembled outside the house of the suspects, raising slogans and demanding capital punishment for them. The police had to intervene to prevent things from getting out of hand. While reports of stone-throwing at the house were received, DSP Daljit Singh Khakh denied any such incident.

A large number of people, including representatives of various political and religious organisations, were present at the last rites.

Punjab State Women’s Commission Chairperson Manisha Gulati along with SSP Navjot Mahal visited the family. Gulati asked the district police to expedite the probe and submit the challan in court within two-four days.

She said the court would be requested to fast-track the hearing so that the perpetrators could be punished at the earliest. The commission and the state government would extend all help to the victim’s family, besides liaising with the district administration to ensure free education of the victim’s sisters, she added.

On his part, the SSP said the police were investigating the case from various angles and the challan would be filed in the next few days. He said the police acted soon after the incident and arrested the suspects. “We will plead for a speedy hearing so that justice could be served to the victim’s family at the earliest,” he said.

While BJP leader Vijay Sampla met the family this morning, the state government too rushed in to provide compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family. Political Adviser to CM Capt Amarinder Singh and MLA Urmur Sangat Singh Gilzian accompanied by PPCC’s SC wing chairman Raj Kumar Chabbewal handed over the cheque to them.

Angry mob gheraoes accused at hospital

The accused were surrounded by an infuriated mob at the Tandai Civil Hospital, where they were taken by the police for a medical examination. Cops led by Tanda SHO Bikram Singh had to lock the accused in a hospital room to save them from angry youths, who were demanding that the accused be handed over to them. After about an hour, Tanda DSP Daljit Singh Khakh and other police officers managed to pacify the youths and the accused were taken to the police station.