RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec.14: Victim of a series of sexual exploitation Padma Baraik (Sushma), who was admitted to Bhagawan Mahavir Medica Super Specialty Hospital after sustaining bullet injuries on Tuesday morning, today gained consciousness.
Advisor of Medica group of hospitals, Anand Srivastava, informed about her present status saying that admitted under Dr Mayank Shekhar, the 38-yr-old lady’s blood pressure is 120/74, SPO2 is 95 percent on ventilator support and FiO2 is 30 percent.
“There is a plan for extubation today,” the advisor said.
Extubation is removing an endotracheal tube (ETT), which is the last step in liberating a patient from a mechanical ventilator.
While the lady gained consciousness, the story of her everlasting struggle to get justice is being discussed in the city.
“From 2005 to 2022, Sushma had fewer friends and more enemies. Since accusing senior IPS officer P S Natarajan of sexual exploitation till now, Sushma, who has been scouring the courts in various cases, never got to hear the verdict in her favour. It is unfortunate that on Tuesday morning, she was shot at and badly injured by criminals near Sahajanand Chowk in Harmu,” a city resident said.
A city resident expressed his concern for the future of three children of Baraik.
“May God help her win her battle against death as she has to take care of her three children,” the resident said.
“In the year 2005, Sushma’s name first surfaced when she accused IPS PS Natarajan, who held the post of IG, of sexual exploitation. A case was registered on August 2, 2005 at Lower Bazar police station. This case went on for 12 years. In 2012, Natarajan lost his job. In the year 2017, Natarajan was acquitted, freeing him from the charges. After his release, the victim filed an appeal challenging the court’s decision. Apart from this, Sushma has also accused Danish Rizwan, Neeraj Sinha and others of rape, attempt to rape, sexual exploitation and molestation. Because of all these cases, Sushma and the whole family have been suffering for the last 17 years,” the resident, having an idea of her cases, added.
A police official said the district administration has always extended help to the lady but yesterday’s incident has put everyone in the dock and it has become a challenge for the police to find out who was after the life of the lady.
“Sushma has three children, two sons and one daughter. Elder son Manish is 22 years old. He studies and does a private job. Daughter Isha is 14 years old and son Sonu is nine years old. If Sushma’s version is anything to go by, Sonu is Danish’s son. Sushma was given three bodyguards seeing the threat to her life. A bodyguard stays with Sushma during the day, a lady bodyguard stays at night and a bodyguard was also given to Sushma’s daughter. When Sushma was attacked, she had a bodyguard with her. She has also got a house under the government’s scheme in Lower Bazar police station area. There she lives with her children. She has also got compensation given to a rape victim. But everything went in vain after yesterday’s attack though effort is on to save her giving the best possible treatment,” the police official said.
In the meantime, police investigating the case have detained three for questioning in the case. However, when contacted S.P.(city) Naushad Alam and officer-in-charge of Argora police station, Vinod Kumar, for their comments they did not take a call.
A police official said that shooters were so smart that they chose a place in between Sahajanand Chowk to Allahabad Bank Chowk on Harmu bypass road to open fire where there was no CCTV coverage but the police somehow managed to track their movement.
“The criminals chose to go towards Purani Ranchi after crossing Sahajanand Chowk, Kartik Oraon Chowk and Bharat Mata Chowk after committing the crime,” the police official said.
“An FIR has been registered in this connection on the statement of victim’s brother Sikandar Baraik at Argora police station. Those named in the FIR include former IPS P S Natarajan, Danish Rizwan, Nazir, Sunil Badal, Neeraj Sinha and Ajay Kachhap. Sikandar has said in his statement that the people against whom my sister has filed have a role in the shooting. The police are probing the matter from different angles. SIT has been formed to disclose this scandal,” the official said.
