Wary AGP sits on rape report

GUWAHATI, April 12: Apprehensive of losing face before the elections, the Asom Gana Parishad-led government is sitting on a police report which says there is "conclusive evidence" of senior minister Rajendra Mushahary raping an 18-year-old tribal girl last year. The report was prepared by the Kokrajhar superintendent of police and submitted to the additional director-general of police (criminal investigation department) in November. The SP, who has since been replaced, named Mushahary as the "prime accused" in the case and sought permission from the state government to arrest him. He said a DNA test, which the minister had volunteered to undergo, was not necessary immediately. "DNA profiling of the child (born to the victim) is not considered necessary at the moment. It may follow subsequently in the event of a paternity suit or case of disputed parentage filed by the aggrieved party," the police official said. The minister for welfare of plains tribes and backward classes stands accused of raping Monila Brahma twice in February and March last year in Hotel Santiban at Barovisha in neighbouring West Bengal. His accomplices allegedly lured Monila to the hotel. It was not until six months later that Monila's mother filed an FIR (124/2000) at the Gossaigaon police station. The victim gave birth to a boy in October. The National Human Rights Commission said recently that Mushahary had no right to remain in the Mahanta Cabinet after being named as the "prime accused" in a rape case. It said his continuance in office "not only runs counter to the rudiments of the rule of law, but also gives the impression of likely interference in the process of investigation and prosecution". Replying to the rights panel's notice, the state government said it would "consider" initiating steps against the minister only after the process of investigation, including DNA profiling, was completed. In their report to the additional DIG, Kokrajhar police urged the former to convince the state government about the need to arrest Mushahary and complete the chargesheet. The police said the minister had confessed to his crime before Maneswari Brahma, Monila's mother, at the Gossaigaon Circuit House. He tried to hush up the matter by offering Rs 25,000 to the victim to undergo an abortion, they said. The police corroborated the victim's allegation that she was lured to a hotel, where she was forced to consume alcohol and raped.