New Delhi, 23rd April, 2013
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of two media reports alleging ill treatment given by the U.P. Police to two alleged victims of sexual assault in separate incidents in District Bijnor and Bulandshahar. Notices have been issued to the State Chief Secretary and DGP calling for reports in both the incidents.

In the incident concerning District Bijnor, it was reported that a 16 year old gang rape victim was beaten up by a lady constable at the behest of Sub-Inspector of Police Station, Afzalgarh. The victim had gone to police station on 12th April, 2013 along with her parents for lodging a complaint against two youths who had allegedly gang raped her on the previous day. The victim and her parents had been trying to get the complaint registered but to no avail. Instead of registering the FIR, the rape victim herself was allegedly assaulted by the lady constable on the directions of the Sub-Inspector.

In the incident concerning District Bulandshahar, it was reported that a 10 year-old Dalit girl - allegedly a victim of sexual assault was taken to the Kotwali Nagar Police Station where a complaint was lodged against the fellow villager Harendra. After medical examination, the girl and her mother were sent to all Women Police Station, where the girl was put in the lockup on Sunday, 7th April, 2013, night and was released only on Monday evening after 20 hours on the intervention of SSP when he was approached by a TV journalist. Allegedly, the victim remained unattended as all the officers went to attend SSPs monthly crime meeting.

The Commission has expressed concern over the utter insensitivity on part of police officials. In the matter pertaining to District Bijnor it has given four weeks time to respond to the concerned authorities and two weeks time in the matter concerning Bulandshahar.

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