Human chain formed for justice in Ruchika case

Human chain formed for justice in Ruchika caseChandigarh, Dec 26 - Representatives of Citizen Forum on Human Rights (CFHR), an NGO, along with volunteers from various sections of society, Saturday formed a human chain in Sector 17, the commercial hub of this city, to raise their voice against "injustice" in the Ruchika Girhotra case.

Led by Aradhana, the only eyewitness in the case, the volunteers also raised slogans against former Haryana director general of police S. P. S Rathore, who has been sentenced to six months for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika, an incident that led to her suicide three years later.

Carrying banners and placards, the volunteers demanded reopening of the case and more rigorous punishment for Rathore.

"Some influential people have made mockery of Indian judiciary, police and of the entire political system. It is not at all acceptable in a democratic country and we would continue our protest, in other parts of the country, in the coming weeks," Sushil Gupta, CFHR's national secretary, told IANS.

He added: "We want the Punjab and Haryana High Court to reopen the case and demand financial compensation for the victim family."

A special CBI court in Chandigarh had Monday held Rathore guilty of molesting the budding tennis player Ruchika in Panchkula town Aug 12, 1990.

Aradhana, who had specially flown to Chandigarh from Sydney to hear the court judgement, said: "It is quite good to see the enormous support of the people. It is very encouraging for us and we are sure that this mass movement will force the authorities to do appropriate justice in the case." (IANS)