19 year Old Vachathi Case: Prison Terms to 215 Government Officials

 India legal News: 215 government officials have been found guilty of various crimes including torture and rape of 18 women that was committed 19 years ago.  A special court at Dharmapuri, Principal Judge S.Kumaraguru today , held all 269 out of which 54 have died accused and handed prison terms between 2 to 10 years. 

Among the guilty  are IFS officers, a retired Conservator of Forests, serving Conservators, DSP ranked police personnels, Additional Chief Conservator of Forests and revenue officers.

The accused allegedly raped hundreds of tribal and dalit women under the pretext of raid and search of  suspected sandalwood smuggler RIP Veerappan.  All the women were taken to a lake on a police vehicle and raped repeatedly. BBC interviewed one of the victims , who said, "The officials warned us that if we made any complaints about the rapes to the magistrate our male relatives will be arrested under a draconian law. So we kept quiet."

All accused have been booked under the Indian Penal Code for various offence and the Prevention of Atrocities to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes Act.