Delhi gang-rape: Panel finds fault in police response

A panel, set up to probe alleged non-responsive behaviour of Police Control Room vans in helping the Delhi gang-rape victim, is learnt to have found fault in the police's response to the distress call and also failure to stop the bus from plying after being fined several times.

The probe by Home Ministry Joint Secretary Veena Kumari Meena noted that the PCR vans responded to the distress call made on behalf within acceptable time but they could have cut short the arrival time and left the spot with the victims earlier than the recorded time, official sources said.

The inquiry found fault in the part of the police as well as the transport department of Delhi government as they failed to withdrew the permit to the bus or seize it despite violating many rules and being challaned several times in the past.

The report was submitted to Union Home Secretary R K Singh on Thursday.The probe panel was specifically asked to look as to how much time the PCR vans took to reach the spot, whether they delayed in taking action after reaching the spot on discussing the jurisdiction issue or any other issue and whether the PCR policemen took all necessary action as warranted.

The probe also looked into the role of Safdarjung hospital staff while treating the gangrape victim and her friend and recent media report regarding non-responsiveness of Dial 100 helpline to a woman journalist.

The 23-year-old paramedic student was brutally raped and assaulted in a moving bus. She died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.