Peace march in Ruchika’s memory, 16 years after death

PANCHKULA - Teenager Ruchika Girhotra, who committed suicide three years after being molested by former Haryana top cop S.P.S. Rathore, was remembered by people from all walks of life through a march held here on her 16th death anniversary Tuesday.

The march started from the house of Anand Prakash, who has been fighting a legal battle against Rathore for the last 19 years, and culminated at Ruchika’s old house where she consumed poison.

Led by Prakash’s daughter Aradhana, the lone witness in this case, and her mother Madhu, most people who took part in the march wore badges demanding justice from the Chief Justice of India (CJI), seeking stricter punishment for Rathore, who has been jailed for six months and fined Rs.1,000.

Aradhana was carrying a big photograph of Ruchika and a greeting card dedicated to her. The marchers lit an earthen lamp outside house number 363, Sector 6 here, where Ruchika consumed poison Dec 28, 1993.

“Rathore used to harass Ruchika’s family, he is the man behind the destruction of a happy family. He uprooted their family from here and they had to sell this house. Now we want our government to make efforts and bring the distraught family of Ruchika back to this house,” Aradhana told reporters.

“Ruchika was a jovial personality but apathy of police and administration ruined her life. She was forced to commit suicide. I have come especially from Sydney to run this campaign against her tormenters and I am really happy to see overwhelming public support,” she said.

A special CBI court in Chandigarh had Dec 21 held Rathore guilty of molesting Ruchika in Panchkula town Aug 12, 1990 and sentenced him to a six-month prison term. However, Rathore was immediately released on bail. The budding tennis player had committed suicide three years after the incident.

Talking about the signature campaign initiated Monday, Aradhna said: “Signature campaign is getting very good response and we have also got hundreds of e-mails in support of this cause. We will not step back from here and would certainly convince the court for reopening of the case and to add the charge of abetment to suicide against Rathore.”

Said Madhu Prakash: “We want the court to increase the quantum of sentence. It should set an example before others so that our daughters and sisters feel safe in this society.”

People from various walks of life — doctors, lecturers, lawyers and students — took part in the campaign.

“I have come from Chandigarh to become a part of this march in memory of Ruchika. We all are victims of this system so we have automatically become part of this campaign. We want police to work in more transparent manner in this case,” Lalita Jagmohan Singh, a retired college professor, told IANS.

Atul Malhotra, an engineering student, said: “Though I did not know Ruchika or her family but still I have come here with my classmates. This is one of the most heinous and unpardonable crimes on the part of a public servant. We all want to see him behind bars.”