UP Govt received two NHRC notice about serious crimes against teenage girls

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent two notices to the Uttar Pradesh Government today in two separate cases.

One involves a police inspector in Kanpur allegedly asking a 16-year-old girl to dance when she had gone to file a sexual harassment complaint and the other one about allegations of gang-rape of a 13-year old girl belonging to Scheduled Caste and her killing when she had gone to relieve herself on the farmland owned by one of the accused on August 15, 2020.

In the first case, the Commission has asked for a detailed report within six weeks including action taken against the delinquent police officer and the status of the FIR registered on the complaint submitted by the victim's family.

Reportedly, the girl's family earns a livelihood by doing some Jagran parties, etc and they had tried to lodge a complaint against the nephew of their landlord accusing him of molesting the girl besides forcibly evacuating them from the rented portion of the house, a few days ago.

In the second case which is related to alleged gang-rape cum murder 13-year old girl, the Commission has sought a report from the Director-General of Police (DGP) in the matter within six weeks including disbursement of the statutory relief as per rules framed under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to the family of the victim and action taken against the guilty and the status of the FIRs registered in the matter.

The Commission also directed the Chief Secretary to sensitize the district authorities in the State to create awareness that the toilets should not be constructed for mere fulfillment of the government records, they are to be actually made functional.

It has intimated the matter to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, which is the Nodal Ministry for the 'Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan.'

"It is expected from the Ministry to issue guidelines to all the States and Union Territories to ensure that the toilets are not only constructed but also used to make the country clean and save the women from the heinous crimes committed by anti-social elements when they go out to relieve themselves. He is also expected to respond within 6 weeks", the Commission says.

As per the press release of the Commission, both the accused have been arrested by the police.

"The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kheri has reportedly stated that the FIR has been registered under relevant sections of IPC and POCSO Act. He has further added that the National Security Act will be slapped against the accused who were arrested by the police within few hours after the incident", the Commission adds.