The National Commission for Women has set up an inquiry committee to look into the reported sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl at the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara festival in Medaram, Telangana. The Commission responded to media and social media reports on the incident. Allegations suggest the involvement of five youths from Chhattisgarh in a possible gang rape.
Vijaya Rahatkar, the chairperson of NCW, has taken the matter seriously and established an inquiry committee to investigate the incident. The committee, led by Delina Khongdup, a Member of NCW, will also include Kanchan Khattar as a Member. The inquiry is scheduled to begin on February 5 and may receive assistance from a legal advocate appointed by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Mulugu.
The committee’s mandate includes examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged assault, evaluating the actions taken by relevant authorities, engaging with officials and individuals to gather facts, and proposing preventive measures to avoid similar incidents. The NCW stated that the committee will present its recommendations for necessary actions to the Commission. The Commission emphasized its commitment to protecting the rights and safety of women and girls and assured close monitoring of the situation based on the inquiry outcomes.
Thousands of devotees participated in the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara at Medaram from January 28 to 31. This biennial event, known as the largest tribal fair in Asia, attracted devotees from various states including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh. Despite elaborate arrangements by the Telangana government, the event was reported to have proceeded peacefully without any untoward incidents.
