NEW DELHI -- Four months after The Tribunefirst reported that several women were raped in the fields near the National Highway in Murthal, Haryana, the Punjab and Haryana High court said that there is "no doubt" that this horrific crime did take place when the state was besieged by Jat violence.
Senior advocate Tushar Mehta, who appeared on behalf of the state government on Monday, accepted that such a horrific crime was perpetrated, but he added that authorities still needed time to probe the matter, The Times of India reported today.
The Haryana police had denied that rapes had occurred even though media organizations had found women's undergarments in the fields, and even tracked down rape survivors to get their account.
In the face of these developments, the Punjab and Haryana High Court took suo moto cognizance of the media reports.
Following the furore over the sexual violence, the Haryana police changed its stance from outright denial to saying that they could not confirm the incident. Under pressure, the Haryana government set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate allegations that several women were raped and molested on the morning of Feb. 22nd.
In February, The Tribune reported that women passengers were dragged out of their vehicles and raped in the fields near Murthal, and state officials had told their families to keep mum for "the sake of their honour" rather than helping them seek justice.
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