The agency has petitioned the Supreme Court to withdraw the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover provided to it. Unnao is a rape survivor and 13 others connected to the case. This comes after an inspection reported that there was no concrete evidence of ongoing threats to the people involved, prompting the Center to question the need for continued CRPF protection.
The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, asked the survivors and other affected people to respond to the Centre’s petition, which seeks to reverse the August 2019 court order that granted them security. The government indicated that the security cover should now be handled by the state police, based on the assessment of local threats.
The government, citing recent threat assessments, said there was no particular danger to survivors or their legal representatives. “The perceived threats from the supporters of the convicts are not supported by concrete evidence,” the Center’s petition said. “Domestic law enforcement can deal with any normal security issues.”
The request also highlighted the operational and operational difficulties faced by the CRPF personnel, who were reportedly subjected to “misuse” and poor working conditions. According to the agency, the CRPF soldiers assigned to carry out the operation do not have adequate accommodation, toilets and adequate support from the local police.
Additionally, the Center’s request expressed concern about the financial burden of maintaining this security information, calling it “unnecessary and unnecessary” at this time.
The petition highlighted the many challenges faced by CRPF personnel in protecting the defenders, including incidents where survivors and their colleagues allegedly grabbed guards, failed to cooperate, and made sudden moves without notifying the personnel. In some cases, security forces have reportedly threatened to implicate CRPF personnel in false cases or to harm themselves, making security operations difficult.
The Center also noted that the current security arrangements put undue strain on the public exchequer.
Security cover for the Unnao rape victim, her family, and her legal team was ordered by the Supreme Court in 2019 after widespread outrage over the handling of the case. The survivor, who accused a powerful politician of sexual harassment, faced serious threats, and there were serious concerns for her safety.
Since then, the CRPF has provided round-the-clock security to 14 people, as ordered by the court. However, the Center has advised that it is very appropriate for the local police to take security measures, in case any specific threats arise.
The Supreme Court is expected to consider the responses of survivors and others affected by this proposed security change. Meanwhile, the government remains steadfast in its demand to relieve the CRPF of the task, handing over the responsibility to the state government.
The court had earlier rejected a similar request by the Center in May 2024, but advised the government to file a formal request for a change, which led to the latest decision.
As the case continues, the court’s decision will determine whether the Unnao rape survivor and those connected to the case continue to receive centralized protection or rely on local law enforcement to protect them.