Monday, December 28, 2009

Register all complaints as FIRs: Govt to states

On the eve of Ruchika Girhotra's death anniversary, and in fact 16 years from the day she drank poison, comes news that the Home Ministry plans to issue a circular to states and union territories asking them to ensure that all complaints are registered as First Information Reports (FIRs).

The Ministry is also considering withdrawing medals from all convicted officers.

According to sources in the Home Ministry, the Medals Committee will meet on January 4 on this matter.

This is a direct fallout of the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case that has the public outraged at how a top cop got away with not just molesting a teenager, but also harassing her to a point that she committed suicide. A depressed Ruchika drank poison on December 28, 1993, and died a day later.

Ruchika's family and friends had a hard time filing a complaint against her influential tormentor and an even harder time fighting for justice. At every step, the teen molester SPS Rathore, then an Inspector General in the Haryana Police, used his influence. While the victim struggled, Rathore grew professionally retiring as a Director General of Police and even getting a Police Medal.

Register all complaints as FIRs: Govt to states

On the eve of Ruchika Girhotra's death anniversary, and in fact 16 years from the day she drank poison, comes news that the Home Ministry plans to issue a circular to states and union territories asking them to ensure that all complaints are registered as First Information Reports (FIRs).

The Ministry is also considering withdrawing medals from all convicted officers.

According to sources in the Home Ministry, the Medals Committee will meet on January 4 on this matter.

This is a direct fallout of the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case that has the public outraged at how a top cop got away with not just molesting a teenager, but also harassing her to a point that she committed suicide. A depressed Ruchika drank poison on December 28, 1993, and died a day later.

Ruchika's family and friends had a hard time filing a complaint against her influential tormentor and an even harder time fighting for justice. At every step, the teen molester SPS Rathore, then an Inspector General in the Haryana Police, used his influence. While the victim struggled, Rathore grew professionally retiring as a Director General of Police and even getting a Police Medal.