Times of India
New Delhi, Jun 3: Dismissing the transfer of three UP police officers in the Aarushi murder case as insufficient, Union minister for women and child development Renuka Chowdhury has said her ministry was considering legal action against them for their irresponsible behaviour.
The minister had objected to the use of “loose language’’ by the police officers in describing the relationship between the 14-year-old girl and help Hemraj. “I don’t think it is sufficient. I don’t think it is action at all. Transferring the officers involved in the case, I don’t deem it as action at all,’’ Chowdhury said. The minister met officials from the law ministry, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and NGOs to consider all legal options that can be taken against the police.
She said the ministry’s prime concern was that the personnel who are in public domain should be sensitized to the needs of children. “All children who are caught in conflict with law should be treated with extra care and sensitivity. We expect that personnel such as police are supposed to have undergone this kind of training. So we are outraged and horrified to see the loose talk that has resulted even before an investigation has been concluded,’’ Chowdhury said. Saying the police officers had no business giving “personal character certificates’’, she said, “I am examining all legal instruments at our disposal and how best to proceed. We are looking at it (taking legal action against the police officers).’’
The Centre has taken a serious view that Gautam Budh Nagar does not have a child welfare committee which is a must. “Despite the fact that a heinous crime like the Nithari killings have taken place in Noida, the state has not formed a child welfare panel to monitor cases related to protection of children,’’ a source said.