Chittorgarh Cops Under Scrutiny After Failing to Apply POCSO & SC/ST Act in Dalit Minor’s Abduction Case

Chittorgarh- In a shocking display of negligence, the Nimbahera Kotwali Police in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, have come under scrutiny for their handling of a kidnapping case involving a 15-year-old Dalit minor girl. Despite the gravity of the crime, the police failed to invoke the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act), registering the case solely under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Following media exposure of the case, the SC/ST Act provisions were hurriedly added on May 29. However, in this entire matter, while the investigation and action should have been handled by an officer at the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) rank as per departmental rules, Nimbahera DySP Badrilal Rao was not even informed about the case.

Child rights experts state that in cases involving minors, after recovery, the victim must be presented before the Child Welfare Committee to ensure a thorough investigation and appropriate action.

On May 24, a Dalit woman residing in Bapu Basti filed a complaint at the Kotwali police station, stating that on May 23 around 3 PM, an accused from Bada Kasai Mohalla, Nimbhaheda, unlawfully entered her home and forcibly took away her 15-year-old minor daughter on a motorcycle. According to the woman, she was away for work in the neighborhood at the time, leaving her daughter and younger son alone at home. The son reported that the accused had forcefully abducted his sister.

When the family went to the accused’s house to inquire about their daughter, the accused’s family responded by saying, “The girl will return, our son has taken her with him,” and threatened them against filing a police complaint. They also warned that if a complaint was lodged, something severe could happen to the minor. The Mooknayak spoke to the family, who revealed that the minor had previously known the accused but was no longer in contact. She had been living at her maternal grandparents’ home, while the accused’s residence was just eight to ten lanes away. The family suspects that multiple individuals may have been involved in the abduction.

Despite several days passing since the complaint was filed, the Nimbhaheda Kotwali police have neither recovered the minor girl nor arrested the accused. Shockingly, in a serious case involving the abduction of a Dalit minor, the police failed to immediately invoke relevant sections of the SC/ST Act and the POCSO Act, indicating an attempt to downplay the gravity of the incident. Sources suggest that while the accused and the victim were previously acquainted, this does not diminish the severity of the crime.

As per regulations, cases related to atrocities against Dalits must be investigated by an officer of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) rank. However, Kotwali Station House Officer (SHO) Ram Sumer Meena assigned the case to a sub-inspector-level officer and deliberately avoided adding SC/ST Act provisions to prevent the matter from reaching higher authorities. This reflects the police’s arbitrary and negligent approach.

The minor’s mother expressed her anguish, saying, “My daughter’s entire life is at stake. The accused has full support from his family, and we fear he may commit a serious crime against her.” The victim’s family has pleaded for immediate action and the safe return of their daughter.

While the Rajasthan government has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to delivering justice for Dalits and marginalized communities, the local police’s conduct in this case raises questions about these claims. The SHO’s handling of the matter not only casts doubt on police functioning but also exposes a biased and irresponsible attitude in sensitive cases