Hardly a few days after he was released from prison on parole because of COVID-19, Rajaram Tarte, a rape accused, located his victim and tried setting her on fire when she refused to withdraw the rape case. While the victim escaped unhurt, her 10-year-old daughter sustained burn injuries and is now out of danger. The incident took place in Parner tehsil of Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district on August 13. The accused has been arrested and imprisoned and the district police are trying to get his parole cancelled.
"This is a shocking incident and could have been completely avoided had the accused not been released from prison," said Inspector Rajendra Bhosale from Ahmednagar’s Supa police station, which is handling the case. Rajaram threw petrol on the rape victim—some of which fell on to her daughter—and that’s when the friend of the accused, identified as Amol Tarte, lit a matchstick and hurled it at the woman. "The lady escaped but the little girl’s frock caught fire. We have now registered case against both of them under section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder) and a few other sections as well," said Bhosale.
But the question activists are asking is how and why are those accused of rape and other heinous crimes being released on parole by prison authorities citing COVID-19, and thereby endangering the lives of civilians? "We have approached the chief minister, home minster and the state police to ask the courts to cancel the paroles and bails of all those accused of rape. No woman, no victim should ever have to face such a tragedy in future and it is the responsibility of the authorities to ensure that something like this, where convicts are at liberty to get back at their victims even as they are serving their time in prison, never occurs ever again in a civilised society," said Chitra Wagh, vice-president of BJP, Maharashtra. "I know about the case but can’t speak on it right now," said Milind Bharambe, Special Inspector General, Law And Order, Maharashtra police.
Supreme Court directed all states and Union territories to form high-powered committees chaired by a High Court judge to oversee the process of decongesting jails and laying down criteria under which prisoners could be released. In June, the committee decided to release half of Maharashtra’s 17,000 prisoners on interim bail.
"There is a lack of categorisation of inmates by prison authorities. They need to divide them into categories and then decide who is eligible for parole and who is not. COVID-19 cannot be used as the reasoning for allowing liberty to those accused of heinous crimes and unleashing them upon the society. I know of so many convicts who have been given the privilege of enjoying time outside to avoid catching an infection when inside. It is the jail superintendent who knows the prisoner best and based on their behaviour, they are given parole. Most times, this is irrespective of the crime they have committed," said advocate Asim Sarode.
