Vakapalli gang rape: Trial begins after two years; IPS officer declared 'hostile' witness

Visakhapatnam: The trial in the Vakapalli gang rape case commenced after a gap of two years. It may be recollected that 11 tribal women from Vakapalli village had alleged that a special party of policemen had come to their village and raped them 15 years ago.

On Monday, senior IPS officer Srikant Chiruvolu, who was the officer on special duty at the time of the incident, was examined. He had briefed the special party that went on combining operations in the villages of G Madugula, Vakapalli, and other villages and allegedly raped the 11 tribal women. During the deposition, since the witness did not entirely support the statement he had made before investigating officer Sivananda Reddy, special public prosecutor Sunkara Rajendra Prasad sought permission to declare the witness hostile and the court permitted the same.

The case is being heard in the XI sessions judge-cum-special court for SC/ST offences in Visakhapatnam. So far, 36 witnesses have been examined. The case has been posted for 12 April.

Two of the 11 victims died a couple of years ago due to ill-health. Eight of the policemen were given a clean chit and 13 were implicated in the case. The court had ordered the 13 accused policemen to undergo a potency test in November 2018. The report has been submitted to the court.

The court also took the depositions of the nine survivors. All the 13 accused policemen are carrying out their official duties.