Noida rape: NCPCR demands strict action against police

New Delhi: National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), a statutory body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, has written to the Uttar Pradesh government demanding strict action against the police officials who disclosed the identity of a rape victim through a press release issued to media on Sunday. NCPCR has demanded a report on the action taken by the state government in 30 days. A 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped in a moving car on Friday in Noida, Delhi’s satellite town. Police has arrested four of the accused- Himanshu Sharma, Rahul Arya, Sunil Singh, and Saurabh Chauhan. The fifth accused, Neeraj Singh, is absconding. [caption id=“attachment_227069” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Screengrab/ibnlive”]  [/caption] According to the police, the victim knew Rahul, who used to work as a security guard in a shopping mall in Sector 25, Noida. On Friday, Rahul allegedly told the victim that it was his birthday the previous day and asked her to join him at the party at Saurabh’s house in Noida’s Gijhod village. Other accused were waiting at Saurabh’s house. They forced the girl in Saurabh’s car and allegedly took turns to rape her. The press release issued by the Noida police on Sunday gave details of the victim’s name, her father’s name and address. Taking a suo moto cognisance of Noida police’s attitude, Dr Shantha Sinha, Chairperson, NCPCR, said, “We are going to ask for strict action from the UP Government against the erring police officials for violating Sec 21 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2000 and section 228 (A) of IPC.” Under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2000, media cannot disclose details or picture of a juvenile who is in conflict with the law. In a letter written to Anoop Mishra, chief secretary, Uttar Pradesh, NCPCR has also demanded that the victim should be provided with adequate security and protection to ensure that she is not intimidated by the accused directly or indirectly. The Commission has asked the Government to provide suitable interim relief to the victim and ensure that the accused in the case are promptly dealt with, in accordance with the law. This is not the first time that the identity of a minor in conflict with law was disclosed to public. In case of baby Falak, the incident which caught the eyes of the nation, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) issued notice to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), under the Juvenile Justice Act for unrestricted entry of media personnel into the ICU where baby Falak was being treated. The CWC ruled that media entry worsened condition of the child. After the  Falak incidence, the Delhi Court appointed a committee which will issue guidelines for media on covering cases of children in conflict with law. The committee is expected to submit its report in first week of March.