Crimes against women are on the rise across the country. A major reason for the trend is absence of witnesses, poor evidence, protracted litigation, delayed justice leading to hostile witnesses. Perpetrators of crimes thus get emboldened as they come out on bail soon after the arrest, looking for another prey.
In such a scenario Prakasam police in Andhra Pradesh, has set an example by ensuring conviction of a rapist of a seven-years old girl, within just 18 months. Such expeditious trial might act as a deterrent against such crimes.
THE CRIME
In July 2021, a 7-year-old girl of Ambavaram village went to play with her friends when her close relative D Sidhaiah lured her by offering money. He took her to his house and sexually assaulted her. He was arrested by the Prakasam police within 48 hours and convicted by a special Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POSCO) court on basis of a fool-proof case prepared by the police.
Sidhaiah confessed that his wife had left him and he had sexual desire. He lured the child with the intention of raping her to fulfill his desire. When the child was unable to bear the pain and started crying, he hit the child’s head against the cot’s frame brutally killing her. He also suspected the arrest as the girl, if left alive, would spill the beans.
To destroy the evidence, he wrapped the child’s body in a plastic bag, took it on his bicycle and dumped in the undergrowth of a drainage canal located at the outskirts of the village and fled.
INVESTIGATION
When the girl did not return home at night, her parents searched the surroundings and then a case was registered immediately in the Giddalur Police station and the cops began an investigation.
SP Malika Garg took the case seriously and instructed the cops to investigate the case thoroughly, collect physical evidence and arrest the accused immediately. A dog squad was called in which led the police team to Sidhaiah’s house where blood-stained blanket, the bicycle and the child’s sandals were found.
In the course of search for Sidhaiah, Ms Garg directed the Disha DSP to take up the further investigation of the case for speedy investigation and within 48 hours, the accused was arrested. All the crucial evidence and a DNA test of the convict was collected, which proved that the heinous offence was committed by him.
JUDGEMENT
With the intention of getting him to be punished early in the said case, Ms. Garg got filed the Charge Sheet in the Special Court for speedy trial of offenses under POCSO Act in Prakasam district court within a 18 months. “I personally monitored the speedy trial, got briefed all the witnesses thoroughly, produced the proper and sufficient evidence in the court, proved the crime and the accused was found guilty of raping and murdering the child,” Ms. Garg told Indian Masterminds.
SPECIAL MONITORING TEAM
With an aim to reduce the sexual offences on children/minor girls in the district, she has formed a special good monitoring team on POCSO cases and supervising the investigation, arrest of the accused and court trial in each POCSO case registered in the district on a daily basis and giving appropriate suggestions, advice to the authorities from time to time.
“In four other cases – two each of murder and POSCO, we got convictions within a year. Normally, conviction takes years and people get uninterested and stop attending the court or reach out of court compromise,” Ms. Garg said.
Well-known child rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi lauded Ms. Garg and the police personnel for their meticulous efforts in getting death penalty for the accused.
