Doctor rescues rape victim

By: Kaumudi Gurjar
Date: 2011-08-03
Place: Pune

Treats injured girl, helps trace her kin in Chhattisgarh
Dr Yamini Adbe will never forget July 24. In the wee hours on that Sunday she was on night duty at the Dehuroad Cantonment Hospital. An animal and human rights activist, she was alarmed when she saw some ward boys trying to drive away what looked like a stray dog that had taken shelter inside an ambulance.

Human rights activist: Dr Yamini Adbe is a member of the International
Health Task Force, a UN subsidiary. Adbe has been working with the
Cantonment Hospital for 18 years. She is a human rights activist and is
associated with Prakhar Shodhmohim Sanstha. Pic/Navnath Kaple
When she enquired with them, the ward boys told her that it was an injured girl wearing next to nothing and they had made her leave the hospital premises with great effort. Adbe realised the danger the girl faced in such a situation, as it was possible she was being chased by the people who had assaulted her.
Good Samaritan act
Asking the staff to accompany her, Adbe jumped into the driver's seat of her car. "It was pitch dark and the alleys of Dehuroad showed no sign of the girl, but I noticed a herd of stray dogs chasing a human figure, who then jumped a garbage heap," Adbe said. "I immediately got off the car and yelled, 'Bachcha, mama aai hain (Child, mother is here)'. The girl, who looked like she was in her twenties, sprang to her feet and jumped into the back of my Safari through the window. She was trembling and even tried to run away when she saw the ward boys."
The doctor said she realised the girl was in shock. "I could see that she was petrified at the sight of any man," Adbe said. "We then informed the police." The doctor took care of the girl's wounds, giving her primary medical aid. "I told her to write down things about herself and she wrote a page-and-half, mentioning several addresses. But it was difficult to co-relate, as much of it was irrelevant," Adbe said.
Cops in no hurry
Adbe said even after informing the local police station, the police did not turn up for long. "Only after the intervention of a human rights activist did the police come," Adbe said.
"The medical examination and the girl's statements made to us revealed that she had been repeatedly raped by an unknown person or persons. Considering the condition of the girl, we shifted her to Sassoon hospital." Adbe said she believed the victim was incoherent because of her ordeal.
"I do not think that the girl had any mental disorder but I feel she was psychologically traumatised after the incident," she said. For the safety of the girl, SP Sandip Karnik deployed two constables round-the-clock.
Doctor gets threats
Adbe said she received threats from local politicians after the incident. She said the politicians came with eight people to threaten her for helping the rape victim. Adbe said she had informed Karnik about this. Karnik said he had asked his officers to look into the matter.
Adbe was successful in contacting the girl's parents in Chhattisgarh with the help of GRP officers. Her brother was told she was in the city. Police Inspector Rajendra Patil said, "We have handed over the girl to her parents and sent an officer with them to verify whether the girl hails from the same family."