by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
NEW DELHI, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- The amicus curiae appointed to assist Punjab and Haryana high court hearing case of sexual assault on women during last year's Jat agitation said nine women were raped, an official said Friday.
"The amicus curiae advocate Anupam Gupta told the court yesterday that Haryana's former Director General of Police had himself admitted the factum of rapes and the information was given to him by senior bureaucrat additional chief secretary Vijay Vardhan," the official said.
In February last year an agitation by Jat community demanding reservation rocked India's northern state of Haryana. During the violence it came to light that attackers dragged out women from vehicles in Murthal village of Sonepat district and subjected them to gang rape.
Initially, the local government rejected the allegations but the state's high court took suo-moto cognizance of a media report, forcing the authorities to form a four-member committee to investigate the allegations.
Vardhan however has denied having any such conversation with Gupta in an affidavit submitted to the court.
"Gupta told the court Vardhan was now denying it under pressure from Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and suggested court to transfer case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)," the official said.
CBI is India's premier investigating agency.
Police have collected under garments from the spot and recorded statements of people who saw women being dragged out from their vehicles.
At least 30 people were killed and over 300 injured in the agitation.
The agitators resorted to arson and targeted shops, malls, vehicles, government buildings, petrol pump and railway stations, besides looting an armory during protests. Locals alleged the protesters also resorted to looting the merchandise from shops.
In India quotas for lower castes and economically weaker sections are guaranteed constitutionally.
Though Jats are currently listed as upper caste they are demanding the status of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), citing the quotas for other lower castes puts them at a disadvantage.
Analysts say quotas push people in India to an advantage in government jobs, education, etc.
Sexual attacks on women and girls in India puts a question mark on their safety and efficiency of police force in the country.
In December 2002, a fatal gang rape of a medical student in New Delhi brought spotlight on crimes against women in India.
The incident saw huge protests and resulted in new anti-rape laws in the country. However, brutal sexual attacks against women and girls continue to be reported across India.
