State’s Deteriorating Law and Order: Congress Press Conference on the Bhilai DPS School Incident
Investigate the Role of SP in the Bhilai DPS School Case
Crimes Against Women Have Increased During the BJP Rule
Raipur >> The deteriorating law and order situation in the state and the tragic incident involving the assault of a young girl at DPS School in Bhilai were addressed in a press conference by former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and other Congress leaders.
Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel
stated that the state’s law and order situation has become abysmal. Women are not safe anywhere. In Raigarh, a woman was gang-raped by 14 men. Incidents of theft, robbery, murder, and stabbing have become commonplace. Even schoolgirls are not safe. On July 5, 2024, a disturbing incident of molestation occurred involving an innocent girl at DPS School in Bhilai. When the girl returned home that day, noticing her distress, she was taken to a senior pediatrician in Bhilai, who noted injuries on her private parts and prescribed medication. On July 20, when her condition deteriorated, she was taken to another doctor who suspected severe molestation. Despite the parents repeatedly lodging complaints with the school, no action was taken.
When other parents at the school became aware of the incident, they protested in front of the school on August 2, demanding action. The police assured an investigation. On August 3, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Durg stated that no molestation had occurred, labeling the news published in the newspapers as false and misleading. When a news portal continuously reported on the case, the SP threatened to take action against the portal in a parents’ WhatsApp group. The SP’s own children study at the same school, and he is part of the DPS parents’ WhatsApp group. When parents expressed their outrage in the group, the SP denied that such an incident occurred.
This case is extremely serious and falls under the POCSO Act, involving the sexual assault of an innocent child. According to the law, an FIR should have been filed before any investigation. The POCSO Act clearly states that in any cognizable offense, an FIR should be registered before an investigation. Section 21 of the POCSO Act provides that if any police officer fails to file a report, a case should be registered against them, which can result in a six-month imprisonment.
In this case, the SP has shown blatant negligence. How did the SP investigate without filing an FIR and then declare the incident false? He denied the incident to both the parents and the media, despite medical reports from two doctors clearly indicating wrongdoing with the child. On what basis did the SP claim that nothing happened? Why did the police not have the child’s examination conducted by a medical board after filing an FIR under the POCSO Act? The SP’s statements throughout this case have been highly irresponsible and appear to shield the perpetrators. The role of the police is to investigate crimes and ensure that the perpetrators are punished, not to deny incidents and cover them up.
Along with the parents, various social and political organizations have questioned the investigation and the role of the police. Prasham Dutta, a member of the state executive committee of the BJP Yuva Morcha, submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Women and Child Development, Mrs. Laxmi Rajwade, demanding an investigation into the matter and alleging that the police were covering up the case. Action should be taken against the SP in this matter, and an investigation should be conducted under the supervision of a current judge.
Former President Dhanendra Sahu called for an impartial high-level investigation into this case. He expressed suspicion about the roles of the school principal and the SP. He emphasized that both should face severe action if found complicit. According to the POCSO Act, anyone who conceals a crime is as guilty as the perpetrator. Therefore, action should be taken against the SP as well.
Former Minister Ravindra Choubey stressed that the Bhilai case is serious and the SP’s role should be investigated, with strict action taken against the guilty. Raipur has become the “Capital of Crime.” Women are not safe even on the streets of the capital. Not a day goes by without incidents of murder, robbery, and stabbing. Raipur has turned into a “City of Knives.” Just yesterday, a young man was brutally beaten to near death by goons, and another was killed. There’s not a single city in the state where bloody incidents don’t happen daily. Instead of focusing on crime prevention, the police are engaged in sycophancy towards the government. During the BJP rule, the police have neglected their primary duty of crime control and are busy with political conspiracies. Criminals have become uncontrollable under the protection of the ruling party. The capital and the entire state are plagued by incidents of murder, stabbing, robbery, and looting. Despite the continuous criminal incidents, the government remains in a deep slumber. Criminal activities are increasing daily across the state.
The press conference was attended by senior leaders such as Satyanarayan Sharma, former Minister Dr. Shivkumar Dahariya, former Minister Amarjeet Bhagat, AICC Secretary Vikas Upadhyay, Congress Communication Department President Sushil Anand Shukla, former MP Chhaya Verma, former MLA Kuldeep Juneja, former Mayor Pramod Dubey, Bhilai Mayor Neeraj Pal, Charoda Mayor Nirmal Kosare, Mahendra Chhabra, General Secretary Deepak Mishra, senior spokesperson Dhananjay Singh Thakur, Surendra Verma, Congress Medical Cell President Dr. Rakesh Gupta, District President Udho Verma, Mukesh Chandrakar, spokesperson Vandana Rajput, Youth Congress President Akash Sharma, spokesperson Satyaprakash Singh, and Rishabh Chandrakar.
