AGARTALA, Nov 1 � In the face of sharp criticism over the investigation into a minor-girl rape case, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Monday assured the Assembly that the accused police officer would not be spared if he is found guilty.
�Law will take its own course and no one will be spared if his guilt is proved�, he told agitated Congress legislators who had been spearheading massive protests over the issue leading to disruption of proceedings of the House several times.
Speaker Ramendra Chandra Debnath had to adjourn the House twice.
After a series of protests that marred the entire question hour, the Chief Minister made a statement on the latest development in the case apparently to defuse the anger of the opposition members.
He said that the accused the Officer-in-Charge (OC) Dilip Guha of Kamalpur police station in Dhalai district was arrested within an hour after lodging of the FIR and later the accused cop has been remanded to two week judicial custody.
�The law will take its own course and no one will be spared if his guilt is proved in the court�, he said adding that there is ample scope to lodge complaint with the Police Accountability Commission if someone is not satisfied with the probe.
Terming crime against women as a national problem, the Chief Minister said that police and administration alone could not address the problem properly. �There is an urgent need to make people aware about the menace�, he said.
Soon after the Chief Minister�s statement, opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath placed three demands � SP level probe, fast-track trial and immediate arrest of co-accused of the case.
On the opposition�s demand of SP level probe into the incident, the Chief Minister said that if the situation required, the government will not hesitate to engage IG level officer to investigate the case. Giving an impartial probe.
It may be noted that a 14-year old girl was raped by the OC of Kamalpur police station inside his official quarters on October 26 night triggering widespread resentment among the people. The accused cop is now in judicial custody.
