"Will ensure probe is time-bound": Uttarakhand DGP on Nainital rape case

Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Deepam Seth assured that a time-bound investigation would be conducted in the Nainital rape case and that the accused would face stringent punishment. The state's top cop also assured that law and order in Nainital was under control, with additional police deployed at sensitive locations. Speaking to ANI, DGP Seth said, "On 30th April, an incident of rape with a minor girl in Nainital came to light. Immediately, an FIR was registered in the matter. The accused had been arrested and sent to jail. Police have taken all measures to protect the victim and her family. We will ensure that the investigation is conducted in a time-bound manner and the accused gets a stringent punishment." Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to the family of the rape victim from Nainital on Friday and assured them of his full support. "In view of the seriousness of the Nainital rape case, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has spoken to the victim's family over the phone and consoled them deeply. The Chief Minister assured all possible help to the affected family and said that the state government stands firmly with the victim and her family," as per an Uttarakhand CMO release. Chief Minister Dhami also vowed that the culprits would face the strictest punishment "The Chief Minister said that the culprits will not be spared under any circumstances and they will be given the strictest punishment. He talked about ensuring a quick investigation and speedy justice in the case. He said that the state government will impose strict punishment on the criminal who committed this inhuman act. We all stand with the victim with full sympathy," the release read. On Thursday, National Commission for Women condemned the horrific crime reported from Nainital involving the alleged rape of the girl. "The National Commission for Women strongly condemns the horrific crime reported from Nainital involving the rape of a Class 7 girl. NCW has taken cognizance and Hon'ble Chairperson has sent a letter to the DGP of Uttarakhand to ensure swift action, victim support, and a time-bound, fair investigation," NCW posted on X. Tension gripped the city after a girl was allegedly raped in Uttarakhand's Nainital. Senior Superintendent of Police Prahlad Narayan Meena on Thursday said that the accused was arrested and the situation is under control.

Tension prevailed in Nainital on Friday over the alleged rape of a minor girl by an elderly man from a minority community, with religious groups from Vrindavan reaching the tourist town to join in the protests. Police took out a flag march in the town on Friday to instil confidence among the residents as well as tourists flocking to this popular hill station, SP Jagdish Chandra said. “The flag march was organised to send out a message to everyone that the force remains vigilant and the condition is normal,” the SP said. Police have already arrested the accused, a 75-year-old contractor, after booking him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, officials said. Meanwhile, a division bench of the Uttarakhand High Court comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Ravindra Maithani pulled up the local municipal authorities for adding fuel to the fire by issuing a demolition notice to the wife of the accused to raze their residence.

The high court also said that procedures should be followed while serving such notices. Following the harsh observations of the high court, the Nainital Nagar Palika tendered an unconditional apology for issuing demolition notices to 62 persons, including the rape accused. Accordingly, the notices saying they were living on encroached land now stand withdrawn. Aggrieved by the high court’s observations, Swami Sachinananda of the Chitragupta Peeth Vrindavan hit the streets along with 70-80 disciples and local protesters on Friday. He said they came to Nainital to seek justice for the rape survivor, who is only 12-year-old. If the house of the accused is not bulldozed, they would see to it that it is razed, he claimed. The protesters were halted near a mosque where they chanted the Hanuman Chalisa. The Friday namaz was also offered amid heavy security across the tourist town, even though no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. Meanwhile, joint magistrate Varuna Aggarwal said checking has been intensified at the entry points to ensure that no one enters the town with an intention to cause unrest. The Kumaon commissioner has also requested people not to spread misinformation on social media, as he asked tourists to visit Nainital without any fear.