National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, takes suo motu cognizance of the matter over reported gang rape and brutality of 19 year old Dalit woman by upper-caste Hindu men in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh.
“The Commission has gone through the contents of the media reports which are very painful. A young woman belonging to SC community has been subjected to sexual harassment and brutality. It is apparent that the police was not able to take timely action to trace and save the victim girl due to which the young woman could not be saved from being subjected to grave cruelty. The way the perpetrators have acted shows that they had no fear of law in their mind. The family has suffered an irrevocable loss. A young and a precious human life has been lost,” NHRC said in an official statement.
Commission further observed that there are also allegations made by the family that the police forcibly took away the body of the deceased for cremation have been revealed by the media.
“The incident has raised many questions about the law and order situation in the State. Many such incidents have occurred in the State of Uttar Pradesh where the members of the Scheduled Community have been subjected to discrimination and harassment by the people belonging to upper caste. There have been number of instances of leveling allegations of inaction against the police authorities and the administration. This is a serious issue of violation of human rights,” it said.
The Commission has further directed to the State Govt. to provide adequate protection to the family of the deceased keeping in view the gravity of the matter and aspect of the witness protection as there is apparent rift between two communities and there may be danger to the family of the deceased.
“The DGP, U.P. is expected to look personally into the matter to ensure a speedy trial so that the culprits could be punished by the competent court without any further delay. In the current scenario it is necessary that family of the deceased as well as other members of the SC Community residing in the village are provided proper protection by the police. Both the authorities are expected to submit their report, within the stipulated time,” said NHRC.
The Commission is expected the responses from the State Authorities within four weeks.
The Dalit woman was left with her legs paralysed fully and hands partially after the assault by four upper-caste Hindu men on September 14.
Thousands of opposition party members and Dalit activists took to the street across various cities in Uttar Pradesh against the incident, hit out at the Yogi Adityanath government and demanded the UP Chief Minister’s resignation.
