Rape accused gets bail

Ludhiana: A day after the aunt of a 14-year-old rape survivor apprehended threats to her newborn and alleged that both were being subjected to third degree torture in the Civil Hospital, two cops were deployed for their

security

in the civil hospital on Tuesday. The teenager who worked as a domestic servant, and was allegedly raped by her employer last October, had given birth to a girl in the hospital on August 26. The accused has been given

bail

in the case after police failed to file a challan against him.

Earlier, her aunt had moved an application before the court, alleging that the accused who belongs to an affluent family, had been trying to influence the probe, and the mother and the newborn were being kept in a separate room in the hospital, where no one was allowed to meet them. “Cops under the influence of the accused and his family are giving third degree torture to the prosecutrix and her baby, who have not been provided with meals, and attempts are being made to to kill the newborn,” alleged the applicant. The application also prayed that DNA samples be collected before the judge concerned, and a special committee of doctors be formed to look into the issue.

Notably, the survivor has submitted before the court that she wanted to go for the DNA test, for which samples should be collected in the presence of the judge, so that there is no manipulation, and her perpetrator is brought to book. Blood samples for the DNA test will be collected on Friday.

The survivor’s lawyer Narinder Aadiya said: “Under Section 167(2) Cr PC, cops did not present a challan before the court within the stipulated time of 90 days, following which the accused has been granted bail in this heinous crime. We are hopeful of getting justice, and have prayed for a committee of doctors to ensure that the DNA samples are collected in a fair manner, and the accused does not get a chance to influence any committee member. The court has asked for the collection the samples on Friday.”

Meanwhile, Division No.4 station house officer Vijay Sharma refuted allegations of cops being biased. “We have got orders, and samples will be collected for further investigations. We are not trying to protect the accused,” he claimed. Dr Kulwinder Singh, senior medical officer, Civil Hospital — while refuting allegations against hospital staff — said: “Neither is any ill-treatment being done, nor are meals being skipped. Both mother and baby are being treated well in the hospital. No staff nurse or doctor can misbehave with any patient. A staff nurse is always there to look after both.”