NCW chairperson meets 25-year-old rape victim

Bengaluru: Chairperson of National Women’s Commission (NCW) Lalitha Kumaramanagalam was back in the city on Tuesday after just over a month, this time to meet the 25 year old woman who has filed an FIR alleging kidnap and rape on August 29 against Raghaveshwara Swamy of Ramachandrapura Math.

Last month, she met victim Premalata Diwakar who filed a case of sexual assault in 2014 against the pontiff of Ramachandrapura Math. The 25 year old had written to NCW saying she was apprehensive about her safety as she had been receiving threat messages on chat forum Whatsapp.  

Lalitha Kumaramangalam pointed out, “Such repeated complaints raises the larger question of safety of women. It is quite disturbing that both the complainants fear their safety. The young victim has in fact shown me the threatening messages, which is a clear indication that her safety is at stake. I will write to the CM, State Governor and if possible meet or write to the Home Secretary to ensure her safety. But more than anything, public can go long way to change things. In Nirbhaya case, it was the public pressure that led to series of actions.”

She added, “So far we have received 2-3 cases of such religious heads. In all the others cases, a third person have filed an FIR but in this case, victims are the complainant and still the alleged accused is out on bail.”

In the letter, the 25 year old wrote to the NCW chief, she pointed out that she has been subjected to slandering of her personal character by people and she was worried that it would affect her entire life in many years to come. Besides, the police took almost 5 hours to lodge the complaint.

Give more powers to NCW

Currently NCW is a recommending body, it is not mandatory. In the absence of powers, the NCW has not been able to do much to compel the agencies to act faster. The proposal to give powers to NCW for search and seizure, recommendation of arrest has been there for some time now. “The proposal has gone through a group of ministers. There are a few administrative hurdles, but in a matter of few months we should get some  powers,” the chairperson added.

Chargesheet not filed

Despite the NCW chief pressuring the police and the law minister to file the chargesheet in Premalata Diwakar rape case, it is yet to be filed. The chief said “Why has the police not filed a chargesheet yet in the first rape case? It has been more than a year. I met all the top brass of police and the law minister last time when I was here but nothing seems to be moving forward. Does it take one year to ensure a case is water tight? Often justice delayed is denied. I hope it is not so in this case. It sets a bad precedent.”

Two finger test

Both the victims were subjected to undergo two finger tests despite strong Supreme Court order against it.