Shelter home rapes: Why Bihar against CBI probe, asks Tejashwi
Patna, July 25: An opposition delegation led by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday alleged that the Bihar government is trying to save the main accused in the rape case involving dozen minor girls at a shelter home in Muzaffarpur.
The delegation made the observation after visiting Muzaffarpur to assess the ongoing police probe. The delegation members discussed the case with district officials associated with the probe.
"We are looking into whether the probe is moving in the right direction or not. The state government is trying to suppress the case facts to save the main accused," said Tejashwi, who is also Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.
Tejashwi reiterated that the accused had links with the ruling Janata Dal-United, Bharatiya Janata Party and government officials.
"The government is trying to save the accused. Why is police not taking main accused Brijesh Thakur on remand to interrogate him?" he asked.
The former Deputy Chief Minister said that his Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and Hindustani Awam Morcha of former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi -- all partners in the Grand Alliance -- have already demanded a Patna High Court monitored CBI probe into the case.
"If Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is ready for a CBI probe, why is the state reluctant to recommend it," the opposition leader remarked.
RJD leaders and supporters raised the issue of shelter home rapes both inside and outside the Assembly here on Wednesday.
Amid growing demands for a CBI probe, Bihar Police chief K.S. Dwivedi on Tuesday said that there was no need since the police probe is satisfactory.
Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Harpreet Kaur said that the shelter home had been sealed after cases of sexual abuse came to light during a social audit by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai.
Last week, medical examination of 44 shelter home inmates revealed that 21 were raped. The district police has arrested an official but the main accused are still out.
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Hubballi: Gym trainer assaulted; police say clash due to personal reasons
Hubballi: A gym trainer was allegedly assaulted by a group of people following accusations of sexual assault and ‘love jihad’, even as both families involved in the case traded serious allegations.
According to police, a group of individuals went to the residence of Sameer Mulla, a resident of Vijayanagar, and questioned him over his friendship with a woman he had met at a gym. The situation escalated into a clash, during which he was allegedly dragged away and assaulted. He sustained minor injuries and was admitted to KIMS hospital.
N. Shashikumar said that after this incident, members from Sameer’s side went to the woman’s house, leading to another clash in which one person was injured. “It was wrong for groups to go near houses. We will take necessary legal action,” he said, adding that the incident appears to have arisen from personal reasons. Police have taken some individuals into custody and are investigating the matter.
Sameer Mulla was reportedly thrashed by a group of Sangh Parivar activists and later handed over to police at the Old Hubballi Police Station after relatives of the woman and members of Hindu organisations gathered at his residence in Rajnagar.
The woman’s family alleged assault and threats from Sameer’s relatives at their Vikas Nagar residence.
Meanwhile, Sameer’s family denied the allegations and accused the woman’s relatives and others of assaulting and kidnapping him. His sister said the two had been in a relationship for three years and that the allegations were baseless.
Police said statements from both sides have been recorded, and a detailed investigation is underway. Sameer remains hospitalised, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on findings.
In a video statement shared on social media, the 20-year-old woman alleged that Sameer had given her an intoxicant, recorded videos without her consent, and sexually assaulted her. She lodged a complaint alleging rape and blackmail, which police are investigating.
In another video, Sameer denied the allegations, claiming the video was recorded with consent and that the accusations were made under pressure.
Former Hubballi-Dharwad Urban Development Authority (HDUDA) chairman Nagesh Kalburgi termed the incident a serious matter and urged police to take strict action.
Police said the case involves multiple complaints from both sides, and further investigation is underway.
