Vakapalli gang-rape case: Probe was blatantly defective ab inito, alleges rights and women’s organisations

Investigation into the Vakapalli gang-rape case was carried out to protect fellow police personnel, and was therefore purposefully malicious, members of the rights and women’s organisations allege

Members of various women and rights organisations, addressing the media here on April 7 (Friday), alleged that the investigation into the Vakapalli gang-rape case was deliberately done in a defective way.

There was total lack of meaningful investigation, they alleged.

Human Rights Forum (HRF) functionary V.S. Krishna said the judgment delivered by the special court on Thursday vindicated the allegation of the women, Adivasi and rights organisations that the investigation had been compromised from the very beginning.

They alleged that the investigation was carried out “to protect fellow police personnel,” and was therefore purposefully malicious.

None of the procedures mandated by the criminal code was adhered to by the Investigating Officers (IOs). There was no attempt to conduct a test identification parade, or a potency test done as was the requirement under law.

“The IO only visited the village 10 days later on September 1, 2007, and the scene of offence a week later on September 8, 2007,” they alleged.

Mr. Krishna said this was one of the main reasons why in matters where the accused were police personnel, the rights organisations always sought a criminal investigation by a body that was as independent as possible of the local police.