Tikri assault case: State to place victim’s audio clip before court

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 16

Just over a month after an FIR was registered for alleged sexual exploitation of an activist at the Tikri border in Bahadurgarh during her stay to participate in the ongoing farmers’ agitation, the state of Haryana today told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it would place on record the audio clip of the victim.

Referring to the clip, the state counsel told the Bench of Justice Augustine George Masih that the involvement of petitioner-accused Ankur in the commission of the offence was made out from it.

Next hearing on June 21

The state counsel told the Bench of Justice Augustine George Masih that the involvement of petitioner-accused Ankur in the commission of the offence was made out from it. Taking a note of the submission, Justice Masih fixed the case for further hearing on June 21

Taking a note of the submission, Justice Masih fixed the case for further hearing on June 21. The matter was placed before Justice Masih after the petitioner, through his counsel SS Momi, sought anticipatory bail.

Claiming innocence, Ankur submitted that hewas being unnecessarily harassed and humiliated by the police even though his name was not mentioned at any stage by the victim or her father in the complaint.

Momi submitted: “She had informed her father telephonically as well as when her father met her in hospital. She had not mentioned Ankur’s name anywhere in the complaint or the FIR. He is innocent and has not committed any offence. No useful purpose would be served by sending the petitioner behind bars as there is nothing to be recovered from him.”

The FIR in the matter was registered on May 9 at Bahadurgarh’s city police station in Jhajjar district of Haryana. As per the allegations, a delegation of six, including the petitioner, claiming to be the members of the Kisan Social Army, reached West Bengal as part of the campaign by the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha. The victim met the group during the tour and joined the group on April 11 to travel to Delhi.

On April 24, she developed cough and difficulty in breathing before being admitted to a hospital where she was diagnosed with Covid. On April 29, her father reached the hospital and she alleged that she was sexually exploited in a tent.