The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to explain why a 10-year-old molestation victim was jailed when she reported the crime.
The apex court, which took suo moto congnisance of media reports, has instructed the state administration to file the report by Monday.
The state government has already suspended two women constables and transferred two sub-inspectors, including the officer in charge of the concerned police station, which is in the Bulandshahr district of western Uttar Pradesh, India.
The incident came to light when a freelance television journalist got wind of the matter, and managed to film the 10-year-old, who was allegedly molested by her 24-year-old neighbour, behind the bars at the police station. She was later released after the footage was shown to senior police officers.
Both the victim and her mother spent the night behind bars after filing a first information report (FIR) on Sunday night.
The police, who initially blamed the incident on “confusion”, have since arrested the accused who is said to be a local don.
The victim who is from Meerpur village was found lying unconscious in a field by her parents where she was dumped after the s*xual assault on Sunday night.
The incident has seen opponents of the Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh government blast the local administration on its incompetence and inability to contain crime.
Uttar Pradesh state Congress party unit president Rita Bahuguna termed the incident as shameful.
