Authorities in Chhattisgarh will have to conduct a swift, thorough and independent investigation into the refusal of police officials to investigate complaints of rape by the police, said Amnesty International. Thirteen Adivasi women said they were raped and sexually assaulted by police and security force personnel during search operations in Nendra village in Bijapur district of the state, between 11-14 January. The men have also allegedly raped or sexually assaulted other women, threatened to beat up villagers, and steal poultry, other food and money.
However, when the women tried to file an FIR at the office of the District Collector, the police recorded the women's statements saying they could not register a report. It took a press conference by activists for the police to finally register a First Information Report against unnamed police and security personnel for offences including rape, gang-rape, and sexual assault. Amnesty India Women's Right Campaigner, Gopika Bashi said, “The unnecessary delay in registering complaints of sexual violence against police and security forces is extremely worrying. The authorities must thoroughly investigate both the allegations of abuse and the delay. The repeated allegations of sexual violence by security forces in Chhattisgarh point to a disturbing trend. The Chhattisgarh government needs to independently investigate these allegations, and ensure that anyone found responsible is swiftly brought to justice.”
One of the statements made by the women reads, “Two men caught hold of me and dragged me inside my house. They took off my clothes, tore my blouse and pressed my breasts. One policeman raped me and said 'we will burn down your houses. If it wasn't daytime, we would have killed you.'” The women's lawyer said, “The women who were raped were not able to even walk properly. Despite that, they went to file and FIR, but police officials refused to register an FIR unless the Superintendent of Police was present.”
This is not the first case of alleged sexual assault by security forces. Six Adivasi women from Kunna village, Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, alleged that security force personnel had stripped and sexually assaulted them on 12 January. The police are yet to register an FIR in the case. Women from Pedagelpur, Bijapur district of Karnataka, filed an FIR alleging rape and sexual violence by security officers between 19-24 October.
