Prakash Declines Award to Fight for Justice in Ruchika Case
Anand Prakash and his family members, who kept the fight for justice alive in Ruchika molestation case for 19 years and are still struggling to get former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore properly punished, have refused to accept a bravery award from MS Bitta, chairman of All India Anti-Terrorist Front.
“Our job is not done, we are still yearning for justice and an exemplary punishment for the accused SPS Rathore. Till we get whole justice we are not liable for getting any award or anything,” Prakash said in Chandigarh.
Bitta paid a visit to Prakash at his home accompanied with Rukhsana, the Kashmir braveheart who killed a Lashkar terrorist in Rajouri district in September.
Bitta wanted to honour Prakash, his wife Madhu and their daughter Aradhana, the lone witness in the case. However, Prakash courteously declined to accept the award.
“So far only little success that we attained is that court has convicted Rathore of molestation but at the same time the quantum of sentence is very little. The court should also try him under abetment to suicide charge.”
“We were alone fighting this case for the last 19 years so there was very bleak hope for justice but now when we are getting support from all sections of society we are assured of true justice ahead,” Prakash said.
Bitta said: “We want the police to write the complaint again and start verifying the facts and evidences pertaining to this case afresh. There should be a complete inquiry of officials right from a clerk to a top official. This case also raises questions on the working of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) as it failed to provide inputs about Rathore.”
He added that he felt bad that he had missed highlighting this case earlier.
“I would be a more happy man if I had joined Anand Prakash and his family earlier. Now they are not alone, we are with them. Media has also played an instrumental role in taking this case near a logical end. They have taken this case to national and international level,” Bitta said.
“This is also a kind of terrorism that has destroyed many homes and families. I am sure that taking inspiration from this case many more victims will come out and will raise voice against tainted officials,” he said.
Nineteen-year-old Rukhsana also demanded more punishment for Rathore.
