JHALSA team visits Birsa jail to probe allegations of sexual exploitation of woman inmate

A team from Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority has found prima facie evidence of sexual exploitation of a woman inmate at Birsa Munda Central Jail, pending further investigation.

A team of Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) visited the Birsa Munda Central Jail here on Tuesday to probe an allegation of sexual exploitation of a woman inmate, an official said.

JHALSA secretary, Kumari Ranjana Asthana, told PTI that, acting on a directive from JHALSA executive chairperson Justice S N Prasad, a four-member team from Ranchi District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), led by its secretary Rakesh Raushan, had visited the Birsa Munda Central Jail.

''The team has prima facie found the allegations to be true. However, we can only comment after going through their report, which would be submitted to the Jhalsa executive chairperson,'' Asthana said.

The team questioned the victim about the incident and also the accused officials and other inmates.

On Monday, Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri had constituted a three-member committee to probe the alleged sexual exploitation of a woman inmate by the Superintendent of Birsa Munda Central Jail.

Bhajantri had told PTI on Monday that the probe committee would be led by Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order) and will comprise District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) and a woman medical officer.

''They would submit their report after looking at all aspects of the case at the earliest,'' the deputy commissioner said.

BJP state spokesperson Ajay Sah, addressing reporters at Ranchi on Monday, sought a judicial probe into the alleged sexual exploitation of a woman inmate at the Birsa Munda Jail.

''The Birsa Munda Jail Superintendent Kumar Chandrashekhar is a habitual offender who has faced a continuous stream of serious allegations in the past,'' Sah said.

He alleged that there were allegations of sexual exploitation of women during the posting of the officer in Deoghar, and further alleged that during his posting in Hazaribag Jail, there were accusations of exploiting a constable's wife and providing patronage to a criminal gang.

''If no sexual exploitation had indeed occurred involving the woman inmate, then why was a pregnancy test carried out on her on May 17?'' questioned Sah.

He further accused the jail administration of secretly carrying out an abortion of the alleged woman inmate to cover up the case.

The BJP leader also accused Inspector General of Prison Sudarshan Mandal of attempting to destroy evidence and cover up the matter.

Sah demanded the suspension of the Jail Superintendent and Inspector General of Prisons for an impartial probe into the case.

''As long as these two officials remain in their posts, the apprehension of evidence tampering and the exertion of pressure on the victim will persist,'' said the BJP leader.

The BJP leader also warned that they will take this matter to the National Commission for Women, the National Human Rights Commission, and the National Commission for Minorities.

On Sunday, Leader of Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly Babulal Marandi had written to Chief Minister Hemant Soren demanding strict action and a high-level probe into the alleged sexual exploitation of a woman inmate by the Superintendent of Birsa Munda Central Jail.

Marandi had also alleged that the inmate was ''subjected to continuous mental and physical abuse by the Superintendent of the prison'' resulting in the ''victim currently being pregnant''.

The BJP leader had accused the inspector general of prisons of playing a ''pivotal role'' in a conspiracy by hushing up this grave matter, causing files to disappear, and extending every form of administrative protection to the guilty.

Marandi had asked the chief minister to initiate immediate, visible, and decisive punitive action against the principal orchestrators of this crime.