Chaderghat rape accused booked under SC/ST atrocities act

Hyderabad: The chairman of the Telangana SC Commission, Errolla Srinivas, on 8 May, while visiting the Chaderghat rape victim, said that Dalits are at the forefront in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the state and all over the country but there is no protection for them and their rights are being violated. “This could be the reason that Corona virus is spreading,” he said.

He also appealed to the police to not give in to political pressure and expedite the investigation into the rape case. Mr Srinivas said the commission has taken suo-moto cognizance of the incident and directed the police to submit a detailed report on the incident at the earliest. He also directed the revenue department to disburse the compensation to the victim as per the Supreme Court guidelines.

Mr Srinivas, meanwhile, has accused Malakpet MLA Ahmed Balala of abusing him and demanded that a case be registered against him. He said Mr Balala passed derogatory comments against him and the commission members when they were visiting the victim. He directed the Hyderabad police to register a case under charges of the SC/ST Atrocities Act.

Meanwhile, minister for tribal welfare and women development Satyavathi Rathod has requested that the identity of the victim and her family be kept anonymous. To protect the victim's privacy, she said, officials should speak to her through video conference and added that the officials have taken all measures to ensure her safety. She said that the incident should not be politicised or given a communal tone. The minister assured her support to the victim and her family and said justice will be delivered.