NCW chief meets rape survivor, tortured woman in Bathinda

Bathinda: National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma on Tuesday reached Bathinda to meet a woman who was so brutally assaulted by her in-laws for dowry that her two limbs had to be amputated and another who was raped, but her assailants yet to be arrested.

Sharma visited the city on a complaint by Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

The NCW chief met the victims and found out that police had not acted in providing quick justice to the aggrieved women. Sharma directed the police to arrest the guilty in both cases and announced that she would submit a report to the Union ministry for women and child development in two days.

An 18-year-old woman was subjected to sexual harassment 21 days ago. However, two accused in the case were not arrested despite the survivor approaching police, Harsimrat had alleged on Monday. She also raised the issue of a married woman who was tortured by her in-laws for dowry. Harsimrat said the woman was burnt and beaten up, and her two limbs had to be amputated. She had claimed that the victim was awaiting justice for a year.

Bathinda senior superintendent of police (SSP) accompanied the NCW chairperson when she spoke to the victims. The NCW chairperson said, “I got complaints from Union minister Harsimrat and came to Bathinda to listen to the woes of both aggrieved women. I heard both of them separately and found that the police failed to take timely action. Though I found variance in the statement given earlier by the rape survivor, I found that justice was not provided to her. I asked the police head to arrest the guilty at the earliest. Likewise, the victim of atrocities at the hands of in-laws too was not provided justice. I will prepare a report and submit to the Union ministry of women and child development with recommendation of action.”

When contacted, Bathinda SSP Nanak Singh said FIR in the rape case was registered at the Canal Colony police station on June 24. “One accused flew abroad before the case was registered and we are trying to arrest the other who is in India.” The SSP refuted claims that police delayed action.