NHRC notice to the Delhi Police Commissioner over the reported murder of a woman by a contractor despite her complaint to police about threat to her from him. (08.02.2019)

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that despite having lodged a complaint with the police about her harassment and blackmailing by the contractor of a shoe factory, a woman worker was stabbed to death by him in front of her house in Nagloi, Delhi on the 6th February. It has observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, amount to gross violation of her human rights. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi calling for a detailed report in the matter, within four weeks. The police authorities are also directed to provide copies of the General Diary of the police station pertaining to the dates when the accused was allegedly kept for two-three days in police lock-up.

The Commission has also asked it’s the Director General (Investigation) to depute a team from the Investigation Division of the Commission to conduct a fact finding on the spot investigation. The team is directed to examine all the stakeholders and to obtain necessary records including relevant portion of the General Diary of the police station.

The Commission has further observed that going by the contents of the media report, it appears that the victim had apprehended threat to her life and had approached the police authorities but instead of taking legal action against the accused by filing an FIR, the police authorities allowed him to roam freely after giving some verbal warning. This act of the police might have encouraged the accused to eliminate the victim without any fear of law. Due to reckless attitude of the police authorities, the victim has been killed by the accused in spite of law enforcing agencies having prior information.

According to the media reports, carried today on the 8th February,2019, that the alleged accused contractor was arrested on Thursday morning and a case under IPC Section 302 (murder) was registered against him. A police officer said Devi had resisted the accused’s advances, so he began harassing her at work, on the phone, and near her house.The Addl. DCP of the Outer District Delhi has reportedly stated that he has come to know about this complaint now and will conduct an inquiry, if any negligence on the part of any police officer is found, action will be taken against him. It is further mentioned that on 08.01.2019, a hoax call was received by the police from the accused’s phone which is registered under the name of the victim. Both of them were brought to the police station where they leveled allegations against each other. Later, they reached a compromise and were allowed to go back.

The family members of the victim have reportedly stated that after they made a complaint the accused was caught by the police and was asked to mend his ways. He was also apprehended in the police lock up for 2-3 days as mentioned in the news report. The brother of the victim has stated that had the police not allowed the accused to go back, my sister would have still been alive.

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