Bhopal Gangrape Fallout: Med Report Erroneously States “Consent”

Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: Harsh Sahani/The Quint)

The Madhya Pradesh administration has served show cause notices to two women doctors who had erroneously stated in the medical examination report of the Bhopal gangrape victim that the sexual act was committed “with her consent and will” said officials on Thursday.

At one place, the report prepared by doctors of the Sultana Lady Hospital has referred to the 19-year-old as an “accused” in stead of “victim,” reported PTI.

According to police, the report, though containing the errors, confirmed that the woman was raped and injuries were found in her private parts.

Superintendent of Police, Bhopal Railway Division, Ruchi Vardhan Mishra said the errors were “insignificant” as these were made in column for recording the details of the incident. She also stated that the part retaking to medical observation is significant in the doctors’ examination report.

Four men allegedly abducted and gangraped the girl near railway tracks in the vicinity of the Habibganj train station in Bhopal on the night of 31 October when she was returning home after attending her coaching classes.

When we sought clarification, the doctors concerned gave a (written) clarification that the word ‘with’ was inadvertently used instead of ‘without’. Actually, the doctors wanted to say that the intercourse was done ‘without her consent and will’. The other error terming the victim as an accused at one place was also rectified by the doctors in the clarification.

Ruchi Vardhan Mishra

Divisional commissioner of Bhopal Ajatshatru, meanwhile, said that due to their mistake, the report could have been misconstrued.

It was a sensitive issue and doctors should have avoided such inadvertent mistakes. So, the entire meaning of the report was misconstrued. We have served show cause notices to two doctors – Dr Khushbhu Gajbhiye and Dr Sanyogita – asking them to furnish their replies within three days.

Ajatshatru to PTI

Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Ajay Singh alleged that the medical report showed the "insensitivity" of the government.

Under fire over shody handling of the alleged gangrape of a 19-year-old girl while she was returning from her coaching classes, the Madhya Pradesh government is mulling an order to direct private educational centres to wind up teaching activities by 8 pm, or ensure safety of students leaving after that.

We are going to hold a meeting with the people running the private education centres and coaching institutes, shortly.

Deepak Joshi, Minister of State for School Education

Joshi said they would tell the owners of the institutes that if they want to remain open after 8 pm, then they should keep a tab on the safety of the students.

"Using smartphones, the owners of the centres and institutions can keep a tab on their students. We are going to ask them to do so," the minister said.

"Our IT team has suggested that it was not a tough task to keep a watch on the students using smartphones after 8 pm," he said.

The Government Railway Police (GRP) had arrested three men earlier and the fourth accused was detained by the SIT on Monday evening.

The survivor, on Sunday, had accused the police of negligence and blatant non-cooperation.

Speaking to ANI, she had said:

We were going from one police station to another but none cooperated except a Habibganj Inspector.

She also said that the culprits should not be left alive, advocating that they be ‘hanged on the streets’.

Ten railway officials were suspended in connection with the rape case. SP Anita Malviya, who was earlier Bhopal Railway SP, has now been made Assistant Inspector General, Bhopal. Taking her position as Bhopal Railway SP is Ruchi Vardhan, who was earlier the Assistant Inspector General in the Bhopal Police Headquarters.

The Inspector General of Japalpur Jaydeep Prasad, was named IG Bhopal.

CM Orders SIT Probe

On 4 November, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said an SIT has been constituted to probe the alleged gangrape. The CM had said he was “badly hurt” by the horrific crime.

5 Cops Suspended, SIT Formed

On 3 November, five Madhya Pradesh police officers were suspended for dilly-dallying over registering an FIR on the complaint of the woman.

The action followed a recommendation to this effect in a report submitted by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Sudhir Lad on the incident and the role of police personnel, who allegedly failed to act on the young woman's complaint.

Taking serious note of the gangrape of the teen, whose parents are police personnel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday, 3 November, held a meeting with senior police officers and ordered action against the errant officers.

19-Year-Old Alleged Gangrape

The girl had allegedly been tied up and gangraped by four men who even took breaks for tea and tobacco while raping her.

The horror did not just end there for the young IAS aspirant, whose parents are in the police force. After the men let her go, three police stations refused to take her complaint. One GRP officer even mocked her, calling her allegations a "filmy story”, The Times of India reported.

The girl, along with her parents — her father is a sub-inspector with a security force and her mother is in the CID — nabbed two of the suspects in a daylight scrimmage on Wednesday, 1 November.

A complaint was registered only after they had caught the suspects themselves.

The horrifying incident has created a major buzz in the city where people take pride in being one of the safest cities for women.

The place where the girl was allegedly raped is in the middle of one of the busiest roads and railway tracks – the famous Habibganj railway station is just 100 metres from the spot and a Railway Protection post just 50 metres away. The girl travels from there to her hometown, about an hour away from Bhopal, every day as she is preparing for UPSC.

According to the much delayed police complaint, the girl started walking on the tracks after completing her classes on Tuesday evening when at around 7 pm, a man now identified as Golu Bihari Chadhar, grabbed her hand. She kicked him and tried to take him out when an angry Golu called an accomplice, Amar Ghuntu, and both of them dragged her towards a nullah. The girl, refusing to give up, kept on fighting the culprits and hit both of them with a stone.

Retaliating to her attack, the two also hit her with a stone, tied her up, and raped her. After about 15 minutes, Golu went to get tobacco and cigarettes, leaving Amar to watch her. The two are brothers-in-law and married to two sisters.

The girl asked for clothes as hers were torn into pieces. Golu got her some clothes, probably his wife’s – but brought along two other men to join in. 

She was raped again, this time the other two, identified as Rajesh and Ramesh allegedly joined Golu and Amar. The assault went on till 10 pm when they finally let her dress and leave, after robbing her of her belongings like her earrings, watch and her phone.

(Photo: ANI)

The teenager managed to walk to the RPF post at Habibganj station and called her parents who were already looking for her. The family went to the MP Nagar police station to file a complaint the next morning. A sub-inspector went to investigate the crime scene and asked them to go to Habibganj police station, from where they were sent to Habibganj GRP.

"While coming from Habibganj, my daughter saw two of the rapists loitering in front of Mansarowar Complex, which is around 500 metres from the spot of crime," the mother told TOI. The parents and the fearless teen chased them down and successfully nabbed them. "We handed over the duo to GRP Habibganj," said the mother.

It’s one of the worst experiences of my life. If I, as a policewoman, have to face such problems in filing my daughter’s gangrape complaint, I can’t imagine what a common man goes through. SHO GRP Mohit Saxena and SI Uikey misbehaved with us and said they wouldn’t file any case. 

Survivor’s Mother

NCW Requests Involvement

The National Commission for Women has requested involvement in the whole incident, asking the Madhya Pradesh DGP to apprise it about details of the case along with the action taken by fax or email. They have also urged the DGP to take appropriate action and deliver strict punishment for the accused.

The commission has also requested the DGP to take action against the respective officials at police stations who refused to file the complaint.

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