R-Day award for UP cop who shielded minor's rapist

A large group of citizens and activists took to the streets of Kanpur to voice their protest against the President's Police Medal awarded to the former director inspector general of Police Prem Prakash. The officer was recently transferred from the city for showing laxity in supervising the investigation into September 27 rape and murder case of 11-year-old Kanpur student.

Prakash figured in the list of awardees whose names were announced on Republic Day, following a recommendation by the Uttar Pradesh government.

"DIG Prem Prakash was squarely responsible for shielding the owners of Gyansthali School, where the 11-year-old girl was raped and sodomised following which died," said Sonu Singh, the vicitm's mother.

Piyush Verma, son of school owner Chadra Pal Verma, was arrested in the case and the government also ordered the suspension of several police officials for their alleged complicity in the case. However, Prakash was left untouched.

"It was this DIG who beat up protestors gathered on the streets to raise their voice against the horror inflicted on the girl; it was he who was responsible for false implication of an innocent boy who had to remain behind bars for 89

days. I am shocked that a chief minister like Mayawati has rewarded this officer who was responsible for the physical abuse, torture and death of an innocent minor girl," said Singh.

What irked demonstrators on Wednesday even more was the fact that the state government did not care to withdraw its recommendation even after the CID questioned his conduct during the investigation.

Even state cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh had said at a press conference on January 13 in Lucknow, "The CID found the then Kanpur DIG Prem Prakash guilty of dereliction of duty". He added that a separate probe has been instituted into his role by Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Brij Lal. The probe was to be completed in 15 days.

"Awarding the President's Police Medal to Prakash amounts to showing disrespect to Republic Day; it's a matter of great shame," said Gyanesh Misra, leader of the Kanpur Traders Association who led the protests.