PRESS RELEASE

New Delhi, Dated: 15th June, 2015

The National Human Rights Commission has recommended that the Railway Board pay Rs.5 lakh as monetary relief in a case of molestation of a woman and attack on her husband by RPF personnel leading to his death. The incident had happened on board a train going to Daltanganj on the 16th June, 2008. The Commission held the contention of the Railway Board as untenable that the four RPF personnel involved in the incident were innocent as earlier the CBCID, Jharkhand and Superintendent of Police, Government Railway Police (GRP), Dhanbad had found them guilty on the basis of investigations and post-mortem report. The Commission has sought a compliance report along with proof of payment within eight weeks from the Chairman, Railway Board.

On the basis of material on record, the Commission found that the couple, along with their children, was going to Daltanganj by train on the 16th June, 2008. When the train stopped at Railway Station Rai, four RPF personnel, including two Head Constables and two Constables started teasing the woman. When her husband objected to this, the RPF personnel attacked him causing injuries on his head. He was taken to Civil Hospital, where he died during the treatment. The post-mortem report confirmed the head injuries. However, the Viscera tested positive for sulfas.

On the directions of the Commission, the CBCID, Jharkhand conducted investigation in the matter and informed that four RPF personnel were found guilty under Section 354 & 306 IPC and an order had been issued for their arrest. The Superintendent of Police, GRP, Dhanbad had also subsequently confirmed that the said four personnel of RPF were found guilty under Section 354/306/34 IPC.

However, thereafter, in response to the Commission's show cause notice, the Railway Board held that on the basis of an enquiry by a competent authority, through a Court of Enquiry, all four RPF personnel were not found guilty. It held that unlike the claim of the woman, the RPF personnel were on duty with lathis and not rifles. The man had died due to consumption of aluminum sulfide and no external injury was seen during post-mortem.

The Commission held the contention of the Railway Board as factually incorrect because external injury in the form of swelling and bruises on the head was mentioned in the post-mortem report. The CBCID as well as SP, GRP had also found the four RPF personnel guilty.

The Commission had taken cognizance of the matter on the 19th November, 2008 on the basis of a complaint filed by the victim woman and since then had been pursuing the matter with the concerned authorities.

*****