NEW DELHI: The saying that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’, has become true for the family of a five-year-old girl, who was horrendously raped and brutally murdered four years ago.
The years since that terrible day have passed without justice after the rape-murder incident; the accused has been acquitted by the court in the capital recently, according to North East Helpline, Delhi.
The five-year-old was allegedly raped and brutally killed by Manoj Thapa at Mahipalpur in New Delhi on April 17, 2009.
The accused, who is 21 years old, stayed in the adjacent building and was just another friendly neighbour of the victim’s family when he committed the crime.
The family of the victim came to Delhi from Mhainamtsi village of Peren district, Nagaland, in January 2009 to get better employment opportunities as well as to educate their child in a good school.
However, their dreams were short-lived when they lost their only child and their nightmare continues even today.
In pursuing the case, the North East Helpline met BS Jaiswal, DCP South on Wednesday.
“It was really unfortunate and very disappointing to learn that the Judge, Mr Atul Ghar has acquitted the accused Manoj Thapa on the ground that there was no sufficient evidence to punish him,” said Dr Alana Golmei, general secretary of NE Helpline.
“The alleged murderer Manoj Thapa had several criminal records including a charge of raping a deaf and dumb girl at RK Puram in 2004 but it’s shocking to learn that the court has acquitted him without even further investigation,” Dr Alana added.
However, Jaiswal told NE Helpline that the police are not convinced with the verdict of the court and have therefore filed an appeal to the High Court and are awaiting the next hearing.
NE Helpline is a combined initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to women, North East people and tribal communities of different states. (NNN)