Delhi govt slams police for inaction leading to 19-year-old's killing

Police fails to register FIR despite repeated complaints; CM Arvind Kejriwal laments deterioration of law and order in Delhi

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Saturday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the murder of a 19-year-old girl, who was stabbed 35 times for objecting to harassment.

The victim’s mother and family in Anand Parbat, New Delhi. Pic/PTI

The city government blamed Delhi Police for the incident and said the tragedy could have been averted had police provided security to the girl who had repeatedly lodged complaints against the accused. “A magisterial probe has been ordered into the matter,” said a Delhi government official. It has also sought a report from Delhi Police within two days.

“The family of the deceased girl had filed numerous complaints against the accused Jai Parkash since 2013 with police, alleging that he used to stalk the deceased and traumatise her, but no FIR was registered by police,” Delhi Home Minster Satyendra Jain wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi. The letter said “it was beyond comprehension that a crime has been perpetuated in the capital city despite prior complaints. Police in a way abetted the crime by their inaction”.

The 19-year-old girl, Meenkashi, was killed after she objected to a man who allegedly abused her on Thursday in central Delhi’s Anand Parbat area. While Jai Parkash was arrested on Friday, his brother Ajay — another accused — was also arrested on Saturday. Both are accused of stabbing and killing Meenakshi — Jai Parkash even stabbed her mother on her back when she came to intervene and protect her daughter. Both mother and daughter were taken to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, where the girl succumbed to her injuries, police said.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a compensation of R5 lakh to the victim’s family on Saturday. He ordered a magisterial probe into the case while slamming Delhi Police for the “deteriorating” law and order situation.

Kejriwal, accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia, visited the girl’s family and assured them of all possible help. “The law and order situation is deteriorating in Delhi every day. Delhi Police comes under the Prime Minister. Either he should do something or Delhi Police should be handed over to the Delhi government,” Kejriwal said. Making a strong pitch for handing over of Delhi Police to the city government, the Chief Minister said, “If the police is not answerable to Delhi government then how will they be held accountable? Right now, Delhi police is a law unto itself.”

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