Police Investigation Intensifies in Jharkhand Gang-Rape Case
Three days after the horrific gang-rape of five women performing a street play in the remote Kochang village of Khunti district, Jharkhand police have intensified their investigation by picking up three individuals from the locality for questioning. The incident has sent shockwaves across the state and raised serious concerns about women's safety in rural areas.
Detentions and Questioning
In a significant development on Thursday afternoon, police authorities with assistance from CRPF detained Father Alphonso Aind, the headmaster of St Anne's Convent in Burudih, along with two teachers identified as Motay Mundu and Robert Hansa Purty. Local residents reported that the school staff had not been informed about the specific reason for their detention or arrest at the time of being taken into custody.
Khunti SP Ashwini Kumar Sinha clarified the situation, stating, "They were picked up for interrogation and were released within 24 hours of detention." The police also questioned Sister Ranjita Kindo and Sister Anita Nag, the nuns from the NGO who were staging the street play, at the Khunti police station.
Reward Announced for Information
Despite these investigative steps, no arrests have been made in the gang-rape case as of Friday. Displaying urgency in the matter, Khunti Police released a photo reportedly taken from a video grab of the gang-rape, showing one of the suspects. The police department announced a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for anyone providing concrete clues or helping with the identification of the culprits.
IG (operations) and Jharkhand Police spokesperson Ashish Batra expressed confidence in the investigation, stating, "We have obtained strong leads and the offenders will soon be apprehended." SP Sinha provided additional details, noting, "We have found that four to six people were involved in the incident. We encourage the villagers to come out and identify them. The name of any informant will not be revealed."
Possible Pathalgarhi Connection
Police revealed on Thursday that they suspect supporters of Pathalgarhi, a movement advocating for tribal autonomy, might be behind the attack. When questioned about announcing this connection without establishing the identity of the culprits, SP Sinha explained, "The conclusion was based on an FIR filed by police, which, in turn, was based on the statements of the victims."
He further elaborated, "The victims told us that the offenders were questioning them for coming to Kochang, a 'prohibited area', for propagating government agenda." The five women had visited Kochang to create awareness about human trafficking and migration at a local school when they were forcibly taken away and assaulted.
Contradictions in Police Statements
Police officials stated that all legal formalities in dealing with the survivors have been completed and claimed that "they have been kept in police protection at an orphanage at Sahyog village near Hutar." However, when Times of India visited the mentioned orphanage, significant discrepancies emerged in the police account.
Neither the survivors were present at the facility, nor was there any record of police visiting the orphanage. The visitors' diary, which TOI examined, showed only two entries on Friday and confirmed that no victims had been lodged there. Sosan Purty, superintendent of the orphanage, stated unequivocally, "We haven't had anyone coming to the orphanage in the past two days. If they were coming here, we would have to make special arrangements, but we have not been informed about any such thing by police."
Police have refused to present the victims or their statements to the media, adding another layer of uncertainty to the ongoing investigation as authorities continue their search for the perpetrators of this brutal crime.
