Jat quota stir: Haryana govt forms panel to receive any rape complaint

Chandigarh/New Delhi: A committee of three women police officers, including a DIG, was on Friday set up by the Haryana government to receive any complaint of rape of women during the Jat quota agitation amid allegations of gangrape in Murthal village in Sonipat district.

Haryana police, meanwhile, put the death toll in the agitation at 30. As many as 13 youths died in Jhajjar, five in Rohtak, eight in Sonipat, two in Jind, one each in Hissar and Kaithal, it said.

The state DGP Y P Singhal said police have not received any rape complaint yet but will act swiftly as and when any case is reported.

Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana P K Das told reporters in Chandigarh that the three-member committee comprises DIG Rajshree Singh, DSP Bharti Dabas and DSP Surinder Kaur.

The state government has also set up a helpline number -- 18001802057 -- whereby any person having information about any such incident can share it with the authorities, he said.

Das said the Haryana government was ready to cooperate with statutory bodies like Human Rights Commission and appealed to the public to provide any information they have in this regard to police.

"No report of any such incident has been received so far. No eyewitness has contacted police. The state government and police are fully sensitive and we will act swiftly if anyone provides any information in this regard," Singhal said when asked about reports of allegations of gangrape of women.

He said no concrete evidence has been found so far that could prove sexual assault on or rape of women in Murthal by arsonists.

"Till now, there is no confirmation of this incident. But we will probe the matter with full sensitivity and compassion," he said.

Rejecting reports that local police officers were allegedly suppressing information of sexual assault, the DGP said no officer at the lower level could suppress any complaint. "It is a sensitive matter and the Chief Minister is seized of it," he said.

Asked about recovery of few clothes including of women at Murthal on Delhi-Ambala National Highway, the DGP said that the investigations were under progress in this regard to ascertain whether any "crime" was committed.

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal urged any victims who belong to Delhi to approach the body for legal support and justice.

Victims can either call the 181 women's helpline or visit the DCW office, Maliwal said, adding that it would be ensured their confidentiality is maintained, Maliwal said in Delhi.

Stating that the situation is now normal in the state. Singhal said there were 30 deaths as a result of violence during the quota stir. A total of 713 FIRs have been registered, while 133 people arrested in this connection, he said.