Commission set up to probe Delhi gang-rape incident notes lapses by traffic police

New Delhi: The Justice Usha Mehra Commission, set up to identify the lapses, if any, on the part of the police or any other authority or person that contributed to the occurrence of the brutal Delhi gang-rape on December 16 last year, has received around 7,000 inputs from the public, which are now being studied.

NDTV has learnt that the one-woman commission has noted lapses by the transport department of the traffic police. For instance, the bus in which the 23-year-old medical student was gang-raped was allowed to operate despite being booked six times for traffic violations. However, the commission has not received any evidence yet that testifies to lapses on the part of Delhi Police.

DelhiPolice officers have been asked to testify before the panel. Deputy Commissioner ofPolice Chhaya Sharma andJoint Commissioner of Police Vivek Gogia testified today. More officers areexpected to meet Justice Mehra in the days to follow, as she tries to ascertainwhether there were any lapses on the part of the police.

The male friend of the medical student, who was with her and was also assaulted on the bus by six men, will record his statements with Justice Mehra on Wednesday.

The Commission, headed by former the former Delhi High Court judge was set up in December last year and is expected to submit its report to parliament within three months. It invited inputs from the public on January 1.

Recommendations and suggestions have come in from Delhi University lecturers, army personnel, a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) representative, and members of the public.   

The commission is also expected to suggest measures to improve the safety and security of women, particularly in Delhi and its suburbs.