Kanker case: YC report says 41 raped, two pregnant!

Raipur, January 08, 2013

The Youth Congress (YC) has claimed to have come up with startling fact in connection to Kanker rape incident citing its probe team report that said 41 girls, not 11 were raped in the tribal girls’ hostel while two were found pregnant – the fact which was not disclosed by the local administration.

The state YC president Uttam Vasudev, who convened meeting of organisation’s office-bearers at Congress Bhawan on Tuesday, informed that the YC probe team had submitted comprehensive report about the incident after visiting girls’ hostel and interacting with the local villagers on January 7.

“Out of 41 victims, the parents of only 11 had lodged complaint of rape to block education officer (BEO) through deputy sarpanch, hence the local administration posed silence over remaining 30,” Vasudev said.

The probe team informed that the BEO had taken 32 girls to an unidentified place when it reached girls’ hostel at village Jhaliyamari under nagar panchayat Narharpur (Kanker district).

The report said the girls’ hostel has 43 students from 6-13 years of age. The students belonged to nearby villages. The distance between hostel and school is 200 meters. The hostel is located near the main road intersection of village Jhaliyamari. The hostel is ill-facilitated with no security arrangement and five employees including warden (female) and four male staffers. The toilet is two kilometre away from the hostel. Urine and blood taints were found in hostel beds.

The probe team learnt from deputy sarpanch Sukaluram Netam that the parents had complained the latter pertaining to physical abuse of their children in girls’ hostel in August 2012. The information in written was given to BEO on November 24, 2012 but the complainants were told not to drag the issue as it would only spoil the future of the children. Consequently, the two main accused Shikshakarmi Mannuram Goti and peon Dinanath submitted Rs 5000 each and warden submitted Rs 3000 as a fine at village meeting.

The report said Dr LK Sarva (Ayurveda expert) has been appointed to conduct health test of the children every month but he has not visited hostel since August 2012. The female health worker Sulochna Mandavi too was missing from the hostel, the report added.

The probe team informed that it learnt of similar incident in girls’ hostel at village Amadula under Doundi block (Kanker district) the complaint of which had been lodged to BEO about a month ago.

YC to gherao CM house on Jan 18

On Tuesday meeting, the YC decided to gherao CM house on January 18. Before this, the YC’s Vidhan Sabha presidents will conduct probe in all the hostels of their respective areas and submit their reports by January 12. On the following day, the organisation will perform havan in every assembly area and would pray that the government gets wisdom.

On Kanker incident, the YC has demanded stern action against guilty in one month through fast-track court. It also demanded amendment in Indian Penal Code to make provision for hanging of rapists.

The YC also suggested for constitution of judicial commission to deal rape incidents and give quick decision. It said the chief minister should take moral responsibility of Kanker incident and tender his resignation.