Gr Noida: In a setback to UP police, a court
here on Monday dismissed its plea challenging a lower court order
directing filing of a case against 15 cops and a PAC
commandant for allegedly raping a woman during the crackdown
on farmers opposing land acquisition in Bhatta-Parsaul
villages here.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate's court had last month
directed the police to lodge a rape case against the 16
members of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) following a
complaint by a woman that she was gang raped by them on May 7.
Police had filed a revision petition against the CJM's
order.
"The petition is dismissed," District and Sessions Judge
Het Singh Yadav said today after citing a High Court ruling in
a similar case.
The Mayawati government had ordered a crackdown on farmers
opposing land acquisition in Bhatta-Parsaul villages in May,
leading to clashes between protesters and security forces.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had visited the villages to
express solidarity with the agitating farmers and had alleged
that women had been raped. The UP government had denied the
charge.
Hailing the court order, the Congress claimed that it
proved that Mayawati-run administration had "committed
atrocities" and demanded stern action against the guilty.
"I thank the honourable court. It showed that the UP
Government had committed atrocities," party general Secretary
Digvijay Singh said.
A senior police official said they were yet to take a
decision on whether to approach the High Court.
"We are consulting legal experts whether to move High
court or not. The complaint is false and lodged by the woman
to put pressure on police to withdraw her husband's name in
Bhatta case," said the police officer.
PTI
First Published: Monday, October 10, 2011, 14:58