Jhalsa presses team for legal help, compensation

Ranchi: The Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) has swung into action to provide adequate legal assistance, security and suitable compensation to the 28-year-old Spanish national who was gang raped in Dumka on Friday night by seven youths. Her husband was assaulted too. The couple was on a biking trip to India and had reached Dumka from Bengal on Friday evening on their way to Nepal.
Police swung into action after the couple approached a police patrol van late on Friday night.They later on posted a video on her social media handle to report the matter.
Taking cognizance of the crime, JHALSA executive chairman justice S N Prasad directed Dumka district legal services authority (DLSA) to ensure that the rape survivor and her husband are provided all necessary assistance and coordinate with local authorities and govt for speedy trial of the case.
A senior official of JHALSA said, “Following directives from our executive chairman, a two-member team of DLSA, Dumka has already met the woman twice on Saturday to ensure that they are taken proper care of. Initially necessary assistance such as required articles for their stay here have been extended to them and we will provide required help as per their demands.”
The official added that JHALSA is also monitoring the case to ensure that she gets adequate compensation and their security isn’t comprised at any level. “Our chairman has also spoken with the state DGP in this regard,” he said.
Sources said since the woman couldn’t speak proper Hindi or English, there were certain hurdles in recording her statement before the magistrate. “JHALSA’s focus is to ensure the woman’s security, compensation and legal assistance while the rest is the mandate of the local police and the court. We are also pursuing to get her the maximum compensation as early as possible. In case the couple wishes to leave the state or India, we are also working to facilitate it smoothly,” added the official.