Victims' mothers allege FIR delay, evidence tampering, VIP treatment for suspect

Chocolate Lure, Rope Restraints

Two seven-year-old girls were allegedly raped by a 17-year-old neighbour in the Sirgitti police station area of Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, in a case that has now spiralled into a serious police misconduct controversy. According to the victims' families, the accused had been luring the children with chocolate for several days before family members caught him in the act on May 27. During the assaults, the accused reportedly tied the girls with rope to restrain them.

The accused was eventually arrested on May 29 — two days after he was caught — but the families say the delay was only the beginning of a larger pattern of negligence and alleged cover-up by local police.

FIR Filed Only After Senior Officers Stepped In

Despite the family reporting the incident promptly, the Sirgitti police station did not register an FIR immediately. The victims' families spent hours moving between the police station and senior officials before a report was finally filed — and only after the intervention of higher-ranking officers. The mothers of the two girls allege that during this critical window, the station in-charge and investigating officers were focused not on arresting the accused but on mediating with his mother.

According to one of the victims' mothers, the accused's family even offered police a sum of Rs 10,000 to 20,000 during this period. She alleged that officers were receptive to the overture and that pressure was subsequently applied on the victim's family to settle the matter out of court.

Evidence Left Uncollected

In a particularly damaging allegation, the family says police were immediately informed about physical evidence connected to the assault — including rope and other items at the scene. Despite this, the Sirgitti police reportedly made no effort to seize or preserve this material. The family fears crucial forensic evidence may now be destroyed or contaminated as a result of this inaction.

A medical examination of the two girls confirmed pain and physical indicators consistent with the alleged assault. Despite this, sources close to the family say police appear to be working to weaken the case rather than build it. The accused's medical examination, they allege, was recorded as "nil."

Accused Gets VIP Treatment, Victims Sit in the Sun

The family's account paints a disturbing picture of the atmosphere inside the police station. While they were allegedly made to wait in the heat outside, the accused's mother was reportedly seated comfortably inside and allowed repeated family visits. The victims' family has named Station In-charge Abhay Singh Bais, Sub-Inspector Sheetal Prasad Tripathi and Investigating Officer Santoshi Agarwal as those allegedly responsible for shielding the accused.

Threats from the accused's side have reportedly continued even after the arrest, creating what the family described as an atmosphere of fear for the girls and their relatives.

Seven Demands Before SSP

The families have met Bilaspur SSP Rajnesh Singh to formally register their grievances. A letter has also been sent to the Union Home Minister. Their demands include transfer of the named officers, an independent investigation by a senior official, immediate security cover for the two families, seizure of all crime-scene evidence, and accountability proceedings for those responsible for the FIR delay and alleged evidence lapse.

They have also asked that the three named officials be kept entirely away from this case until any departmental inquiry is concluded.

Background: Related Case in Raipur

The Bilaspur case surfaces amid broader concerns about child safety in Chhattisgarh. In a separate incident in Raipur, a 65-year-old man identified as Abdul Sajjad Ansari was accused of raping a nine-year-old girl over five consecutive days after luring her with chocolate. Authorities in that case subsequently demolished the accused's illegally constructed shop. Both cases raise questions about the vulnerability of young children in residential neighbourhoods and the adequacy of immediate police response.

The Bilaspur case now awaits action from senior officials. Whether the SSP intervenes decisively — or the matter is quietly buried — will determine whether justice reaches two seven-year-old girls in Sirgitti.