Ashreya 40-year-old inmate pregnant, police form special inquiry team

Express News Service Posted: Jul 09, 2009 at 0203 hrs
Chandigarh The Chandigarh Police have constituted a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to inquire into the case of a 40-year-old inmate of Ashreya, home for the mentally challenged, who was reported to be pregnant on Tuesday.

The woman, found nude in Kishangarh village, Manimajra, on June 15, was sent to Ashreya after she was declared mentally retarded.

The police ruled out the possibility of her rape at Ashreya, saying the woman is about six weeks pregnant, while she was shifted to the home only three weeks ago.

“A team comprising two Inspectors, two Sub-Inspectors and one woman Inspector has been formed to inquire into the case. We have also hired a translator as the woman seems to be trying to converse in Oriya,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (East) J S Cheema.

The woman says she is married and has two children, but is unable to remember her address, said police.

The residents of village Kishangarh, meanwhile, expressed ignorance when prodded by the police in the matter. Claiming they had seen the woman for the first time, local residents said she was “tearing her clothes and indulging in obscene acts”, following which the police was called in, said an officer.

The officer said the woman wrote in Hindi saying she is from Orissa.

Nari Niketan rape: Abortion petition adjourned to Thursday

The petition demanding termination of pregnancy of the 19-year-old Nari Niketan inmate was, meanwhile, adjourned to Thursday, after senior standing counsel for UT Administration Advocate Anupam Gupta completed his arguments. Gupta read out the medical report prepared by an expert panel of doctors constituted on the directions of the High Court. Gupta also apprised the Court about the Ashreya inmate who was found pregnant yesterday.