In Case Of Bikaner Dalit Girl's Rape, 'Suicide' Charge Stirs Protest

Bikaner: The death of a young Dalit girl at the Jain Adarsh Girls Teacher Training College in Rajasthan's Bikaner on March 29 has stirred a controversy. Based on a second post mortem report and other investigations, the police say the girl committed suicide and converted an earlier case of murder against her PT teacher to one for aiding her suicide. The charges of rape against the PT teacher Vijendra remain.

But the girl's parents say they want a CBI inquiry.

The 17-year-old girl was training to be a teacher was found in the PT teacher's room on the night of March 28 by the hostel warden and principal. The two got them to write a letter of apology.

The girl was found dead at 11 am the next morning, four hours after she had gone missing from her room. The police registered a case of murder and rape against the PT teacher and also arrested the principal and the hostel warden.
 The girl's father questioned the basis for a second post-mortem report. "I am not satisfied with the police investigation, I demand a CBI enquiry." A human rights group has accused the police of ignoring evidence.

Police sources say they asked for a second post mortem report and a test of the lung viscera as the first post mortem was inconclusive. After the second post mortem confirmed drowning the police removed the murder charge against the teacher. The hostel warden and the principal have also been charged with abetment to suicide.

"The diatom report and the lung viscera clearly established drowning and the forensic examination of the clothes and sheets taken from the PT teacher's room have established rape," said Giriraj Meena, IG Bikaner range.

But the issue is now acquiring a political twist with the Meghwal community - a politically influential community in Western Rajasthan - holding protests demanding justice for the girl. State Congress president Sachin Pilot visited the protesters while Rahul Gandhi had tweeted his "shock and support."