Hathras rape case: NHRC sends notice to UP Govt; DCW writes to CJI for taking suo motu cognisance

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Wednesday took suo motu cognizance of the reported gang rape and brutal mutilation of a 19-year-old woman belonging to the Scheduled Caste in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh.

It also took note of the allegations made by the family that the police had forcibly taken away the body of the deceased for cremation.

"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 members of the Scheduled Community have been subjected to discrimination and harassment by the people belonging to the upper caste", the NHRC said.

The Commission added that there had been several allegations of inaction against the police authorities and the administration. This is a serious issue of violation of human rights, it said.

It asked the Chief Secretary and the DGP of the State to reply to its notice within four weeks.

Earlier, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) wrote to the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and other judges of the Supreme Court requesting them to take cognizance of the gruesome gang-rape and murder of the Dalit girl in Hathras district.

The death of the 19-year-old woman after she was gang-raped and tortured in Hathras continues to evoke anger and grief across the country. The woman, who died on Tuesday in Delhi, was cremated by policemen in her village last night, allegedly as her family was locked up in their home.

The UP Chief Minister's Office announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Hathras gang-rape incident had been constituted. It will be headed by state home secretary Bhagwan Swarup and will have the inspector general Chandraprakash and PAC Sena Nayak Poonam as members. The team has to submit a report within seven days," a tweet from the UP CM's office said.

The chief minister also directed the trial of the case in a fast-track court.

The victim was initially rushed to JN Medical College of the Aligarh Muslim University but was shifted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital after her condition deteriorated. She kept fighting for her life for 15 days, but finally succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday.

All four accused, meanwhile, have been arrested by the police.

Click here to read NHRC's statement