'Form expert panel to record version of mentally ill rape victim'

A Kathir, Executive Director of Evidence, told DT Next, “when investigators tried to get the statement of the victim they could not understand her account and so the court granted additional time of one week for to understand and record her statement. Hence, the government should appoint an expert committee and provide the required equipment to help in the investigation”.

On April 19, the victim was raped by a member of a intermediate caste, identified as Selvaprabakaran, when she was alone in her house at a locality near Thiruvadanai in Ramanathapuram district. As the woman raised alarm while being sexually assaulted, the suspect was caught and was handed over to the Police.

A team from Evidence after carrying out field investigation demanded the government to act fast to get justice for the victim.

Kathir said that though a case was booked by Thiruvadanai All Women Police, provisions under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were not invoked. “As the victim belongs to the Dalit Christian community, the case was not booked under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. But, Ranganath Mishra Committee has made suggestions to include Dalit Christians under the bracket of Dalits. By not implementing the recommendations of Mishra Committee, the government was doing injustice to Dalit Christians, who are still leading the same life as that of Dalits”, said Kathir.

Kathir also said that as the investigators have no idea of the sign language of the victim and feared that the statement of the victim might be misinterpreted. So, both the centre and state governments should take immediate steps to appoint an expert committee to handle such cases.

Kathir also demanded the state government to provide Rs 10 lakh as compensation for the victim along with medical support for her.