Punjab police officer fired over rape victim’s suicide

Indian police officials stand behind a barrier as demonstrators move towards India Gate in New Delhi on December 27, 2012, during a protest calling for better safety for women following the rape of a student in the Indian capital. (Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images)

A Punjab Police official, who was dismissed from service Thursday, was Friday booked in connection to the suicide of a teenaged gang-rape victim who killed herself after the police failed to register a case.

Assistant sub-inspector Nasib Singh, who was dismissed from service Thursday by his superiors, was Friday evening booked in the case.

The 18-year-old girl, who was allegedly gang-raped by three men last month in Patiala district, committed suicide Wednesday in her village Badshahpur in Patiala district, 100 km from here, by consuming poison after local police officers not only refused to register a case but also humiliated her by calling her to the police station repeatedly and asking uncomfortable questions.

In her suicide note, the girl mentioned her harassment by police and the fact that she was being pressurized allegedly by them to compromise with the rapists. She alleged that she was also being threatened by the rapists who were roaming around freely.

After her suicide, police Thursday arrested two men and a woman in the rape case.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Friday constituted a high-level team headed by Additional Director General of Police (Crime) Jaswinder Singh to visit the village to probe the matter.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who holds the home portfolio, Thursday ordered the dismissal from service of the area station house officer, Gurcharan Singh, and Nasib Singh. Deputy Superintendent of Police Harpreet Singh was also suspended.

Punjab Police Additional Director General of Police H.S. Dhillon said that police took action against its own officers after the matter came to light.\

Tags: Crime, gang rape, India, Nasib Singh, New Delhi, Punjab, rape, sex assault, suicide