HC dismisses rape charge against Gadchiroli cops

Nagpur: The Bombay high court’s Nagpur bench dismissed a petition, which alleged that Gadchiroli police personnel had raped two tribal women.

A Nagpur–based lawyer, Nihalsingh Rathod, had earlier filed a habeas corpus on behalf of the tribal women.  However, the tribal women informed the high court bench that the police did not rape them.

The court also ordered the immediate release of the two women from a women’s remand home of the state social welfare department. The two tribal women were handed over to their relatives. While releasing the women, the court also asked their sympathisers not to make up “false and fabricated story against police.”

Social workers from Gadchiroli, Sainu Gota and wife Susheela had alleged that the police raped these tribal women.

The women, who had come to Nagpur along with the activists to meet lawyer Nihalsingh Rathod, were allegedly arrested by the Gadchiroli police. After their arrest, Mr Rathod filed a habeas corpus petition before the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court. In a special sitting, a division bench of the HC directed the authorities to ensure the safety of the two women at a city-based state-run protection home.

Meanwhile, the authorities stated that medical examinations revealed that there was no sexual assault and the whole story was concocted to demoralise the police force.

Speaking to The Asian Age, Shivaji Bodkhe, I.G. of police, Gadchiroli Range, said there was no truth in the allegations and the Maoists were only exploiting the innocent tribals.