Delhi gang rape: Government probe to cover role of Safdarjung staff, police response

NEW DELHI: A high-level inquiry has been ordered to find out the role of Safdarjung hospital staff while treating the Delhi gang-rape victim and her friend, allegation of non-responsive behaviour of PCR vans when they made the distress call besides a host of other issues.

The probe by Home Ministry Joint Secretary Veena Kumari Meena will look into the the allegations raised by the lone eye-witness of the December 16 gang-rape like late arrival, non-responsive behaviour of PCR vans and other charges to ascertain the facts and fix accountability for any lapses.

The inquiry officer has been asked to submit a detailed report within seven days after inquiry into the allegations and issues, a Home Ministry official said.

According to the terms of reference, the inquiry committee will find out the Safdarjung hospital staff's role in dealing with the victims, how the bus in question continued to ply even after being challaned several times and whether any cancellation of its registration and confiscation could have been done or not and if not, then the reasons thereof.

It would specifically 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 will also look into recent media report regarding non-responsiveness of Dial 100 Helpline to a woman journalist, and fix responsibility.

The 23-year-old victim, a paramedic student, was brutally raped and assaulted in a moving bus. Later, she passed away in a Singapore hospital on December 29.