NHRC notice to the Government of Uttar Pradesh over reported suicide by a rape victim due to delayed police action on her complaint in Bareilly district (19.09.2019)

Delhi, 19th September, 2019

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports thatan alleged victim of sexual assault committed suicide in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh as the police allegedly delayed proceedings on her complaint. Reportedly, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Bareilly has placed the Sub-Inspector concerned under suspension and one Munshi, who had dismissed the application submitted by the victim, has also been attached. The FIR in the matter has now been registered and orders have been issued for a thorough probe.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issue of violation of human rights. Accordingly, it has notices to the Chief Secretary and the DGP, Uttar Pradesh calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. The Commission would like to know about the present status of the investigation of the case and whether any relief has been provided to the Next of Kin, NoK of the deceased.

The Commission has further observed that it is unfortunate that the public servants instead of taking timely action on her complaint, tried to delay the proceedings forcing the woman into frustration and mental agony due to which she took an extreme step of ending her life by hanging herself. If timely action had been taken by the police authorities to arrest the accused, a precious human life could have been saved.

According to the media reports, the FIR on the complaint of the victim was reportedly registered only after she met the senior officers. Still, the Sub-Inspector concerned who was investigating the matter allegedly asking her to go for medical examination and get her statements recorded. Now, two people, accused of the rape attempt have been arrested and two others have been nabbed for passing certain comments at the victim woman.

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