LRO knocks NHRC doors to take action against CBCI officials for interfering in Khunti Gang Rape Case investigation

NewsBharati    27-Jun-2018
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Khunti, June 27: The state of Jharkhand has been in a sway of dismay and shock as the Khunti gang rape case intensifies. Legitimating the incidence over five nuns of a non-profit organization been trapped in the unnatural act, the Legal Rights Observatory issued a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission to take strong steps against the injustice.

 

The Legal Rights Observatory in a letter to the National Human Rights Commission addressed the incident that took place on June 19. Citing that the police had arrested numerous accused in the matter, they also urged the NHRC to take cognizance of the matter involving the Catholic priest Father Alphonso who has been booked by police for aiding and abetting the crime.

The horrifying incident took place on June 19 when a group of five women was abducted and gang-raped by a group of 5 men at gunpoint. The women had gone to Khunti, Chochang village, about 50 km from state capital Ranchi, to create awareness on migration and human trafficking when the incident took place. The women were from an NGO supported by Christian Missionary visited the RC Mission School to create awareness on human trafficking through a street play.

 

However the head of the school, Father Alphonso was involved in the entire incident and there was concrete evidence against him. Denying all attempts of the priest being involved, the Catholic Bishop Conference of India (CBCI), which is apex body of Catholics in India-s secretary general Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas and Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo called a press conference. The LRO in its complaint further mentioned that the CBCI had lashed out at the Jharkhand Police and termed Father Alphonso as innocent is purely baseless.

The Additional Director General of Police R K Malik denied that Father Alfonso Alien, head of the missionary school, was being framed in the matter, and said there was "concrete evidence" against him in the case. According to the reports, the Father had called the troupe and asked the women to go along with them citing that they would be safe and there is no harm. Father Alfonso went to Khunti, and warned the women not to take the incident forward, or else the lives of their relatives would be in danger.

The LRO in its complaint further asked the NHRC to take cognizance into the matter as the CBCI gave a clean chit to the accused even before the conclusion of the judicial procedure. This is shameless attempt to put pressure on investigating officers and blatant attempt to shield the accused.

With the letter addressing the National Human Rights Commission, the Legal Rights Observatory urged them to take an urgent call on the CBCI press conference and the chief Secretary General Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas and Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo. They should be brought under scrutiny for indirectly threatening 5 rape victims by offering clean chit to accuse Father Alphonse and to inquire the motive behind putting pressure on state police.

Along with this, the LRO also has asked the NHRC to issue notice against the two CBCI chief for interfering in the investigation process of the Jharkhand police and threatening the victims as well as officers by giving hurried clean chit to accused.