Woman MP criticises Shinde for naming rape victims

Thiruvananthapuram: All India Democratic Women's Association Vice President and Rajya Sabha member T N Seema today criticised Home Minister Sushil kumar Shinde for his "insensitivity" in naming the minor victims of Bhandara rape case in Maharashtra.

Shinde violated the Section 228A of the IPC by revealing the names of the three rape victims during a debate in the Upper House yesterday, she said in a statement here.

"The Bhandara rape and murder of three sisters, within less than two months after the Delhi gang rape, highlights the widespread nature of crimes against women in the country and to top it all Home Minister Shinde disclosed the names of rape victims forgetting Section 228A of the IPC," she said.

"His insensitivity is clearly displayed by a general statement about the whole incident," the CPI (M)'s women wing leader said.

She also criticised the "initial delay" shown by Maharashtra police in registering the FIR of the girls going missing on February 14.

"Despite the police forming more than 15 teams and officers of the ranks of ADGP and IG being assigned to the case, the culprits are still to be arrested," she said.

She also asked Maharashtra Chief Minister to speed up investigations to nab the culprits.

Shinde yesterday ordered a probe into how the names figured in the statement he made.