NHRC notice to the Delhi Police Commissioner over reported suicide of a girl at Tilak Vihar Police Station (16.07.2018)

PRESS RELEASE



New Delhi, 16th July, 2018

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that a class-XII student committed suicide inside the Tilak Vihar Police Station in Delhi on the 15th July, 2018.


The Commission has observed that the contents of the news reports, if true, raise serious issue of violation of human rights of the girl and indicate towards gross negligence of the police personnel. It appears that the girl was pleading for help but the matter was not properly handled by them.


Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi calling for a detailed report in the matter. He is expected to submit the detailed report including the Inquest and Post Mortem examination report as well as the cause of death. The Commission would also like to know why there were no woman police personnel available at the police station. The response is expected within six weeks.


Reportedly, the girl was being pressurized by one of her neighbourers to get married with their son but her family was opposed to the proposal due to which there was some sort of tension going on between the two families. The girl approached the police at 2.00 am on the 15th July, 2018, saying that she did not want to return home as there was dispute between her family and the neighbourers. There was no woman police personnel present at the police station when the girl reached there. The families were called to the police station where they started quarreling. Reportedly, the officers on duty were to planning to send the girl to the Nari Niketan but, in the mean time, she hanged herself in the room where she was kept by them at the police station.


According to the media reports, the family members of the deceased have alleged that they were locked up in a room in the police station while the girl was sent to another room. As per version of the brother of the girl, when he peeped through the window, he saw his sister's body hanging from a ceiling fan. He has stated that her feet were touching the floor hence it was not possible that she had hanged herself. Allegedly, the police personnel present there panicked and hid in different rooms. An investigation into the matter has been reportedly initiated.

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