Protesters reach Rathore’s house demanding justice for Ruchika

CHANDIGARH - Riot police in battle gear surrounded the house of former Haryana director general of police S.P.S. Rathore here Thursday evening as people holding candles and placards reached the gate of his house to demand harsher punishment to the official for molesting a teenager in 1990.

The marchers gathered outside his residence gate in Panchkula, a town in Haryana about 10 km from here, shouting slogans like “Justice for Ruchika”, eyewitnesses said.

Rathore has been sentenced to six months in jail and a fine of Rs.1,000 for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra. She committed suicide three years later, allegedly due to the harassment of her and her family by the official after she filed a complaint about the molestation.

Rathore was immediately granted bail by the court on Monday.

Led by the family members of Anand Prakash, the complainant and family friend of Ruchika, a few hundred people of various age groups gathered under a single umbrella to raise their voice against Rathore.

“This is our way to express support for Ruchika’s family. We want justice in this case to set an example for others. We do not want other innocent girls to fall prey before unscrupulous officials like Rathore,” said 19-year-old Akanksha Sethi, an engineering student at the candlelight march.