No evidence of rape in Bhatta-Parsaul: Human Rights panel

NDTV Correspondent

New Delhi: A few weeks after UPA General Secretary Rahul Gandhi alleged that women had been raped by Uttar Pradesh policemen during the Bhatta-Parsaul agitation, a media report said the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) found no evidence of rape.

Now, an embarrassed government says they have reservations about the NHRC report.

"I don't want to comment on where NHRC went, who were the people they spoke to, etc. I am sure they tried their best. But in such matters people generally hesitate to share. Women spoke more freely with the NCW women, because they could be more free with them. So we have to carefully analyse this, one report cannot negate the entire incident," says Ambika Soni, Union Information & Broadcasting Minister.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh adds, "I have to see the report. How can I comment before that? Even if anyone goes there now they will not come across any evidence. But why is the government shying away from a judicial enquiry? Why do they still have section 144 imposed there?"

While the NHRC is now refusing to comment, villagers at Bhatta-Parsaul stand by stories of police atrocities and are grateful to Rahul Gandhi for highlighting them. The twin villages in Greater Noida, on the outskirts of the national Capital, were the epicentre of protests against land acquisition.


(2011-6-24/NDTV)