Date:24/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/24/stories/2008102455651300.htm

National

3 CRPF jawans being questioned in rape case

Sushanta Talukdar

Guwahati: Three CPRF jawans have been detained by the police in Udalguri district on Thursday for interrogation in connection with the alleged rape of two women. The victims picked them out during an identification parade conducted at the Routa police station.

Two cases of alleged rape by CPRF jawans on patrol duty in Bhalukmari village under Routa police station were registered on October 20.

Udalguri Deputy Commissioner Kamal Mahanta told The Hindu that he had been informed by the police that the two women were not fully sure if they were the ones involved in the alleged crime. Hence the jawans were being interrogated, he said.

Mr. Mahanta said medical examination of the two women at the Mangaldai Civil Hospital had not revealed rape. However, the State government issued instructions for preservation of material and evidence collected and used by the doctors for the examination of the two women, for further tests by doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), he added.

A 24-hour bandh called by the All Koch Rajbanshi Students’ Union to protest the alleged rape affected normal life in the district.

A joint delegation of women rights groups called on Governor S.C. Mathur and demanded the arrest of the CRPF personnel.