File pic: Protests after the Delhi gang-rape
The Delhi police today exulted in praise from the fast track court judge who convicted four men in the December gang-rape, in which the initial police response came in for much criticism and led to a government probe.
"The police investigation in the case is admirable. It was thorough," said the judge. "The police should do similar work in other cases as well." He also had a special word of praise for Anil Sharma, the officer in charge at the Vasant Vihar police station, who first investigated the case.
Former Delhi police commissioner Neeraj Kumar responded: "I am ecstatic that the court not only convicted the men but also praised our probe."
Ironically, the Delhi police spent the early days of the gang-rape probe fending off criticism that their lax policing contributed to the crime. They were also accused of not only responded late, but also left the brutally battered girl and her friend lying on the road for two hours as they argued about jurisdiction.
The police claimed that two rescue vans reached the spot within minutes and took the victims to hospital 33 minutes after receiving the first distress call.
But the girl's friend said three police vans showed up, and the officers who accompanied them wasted time arguing about whose jurisdiction applied, instead of moving the couple to hospital.
A panel appointed by the government later blamed the Delhi Police for poor coordination.