NHRC takes suo-motu cognizance of two serious human rights violations Notice issued to Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh Governments New Delhi, 17 October 2003
The National Human Rights Commission took suo-motu cognizance of an atrocity on Muthumari, a dalit woman in Tamil Nadu and on Shri Rajesh Tiwari in Madhya Pradesh.
A newspaper report in a National daily alleged that Muthumari, wife of a labourer, Pitchai, was forced to drink 'excreta'. The Commission issued notice to the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu to look into the allegations and submit his comments on it within four weeks.
According to the report, "38 year old Dalit woman was allegedly forced to drink excreta mixed with water in front of her husband and children after she spurned the advances of an upper caste villager in Keela Urappanur village, Thirumangalam Block, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu. The victim Muthumari told the media persons that a group of 'high caste' people also splashed human excreta on her family". It is reported that the victim was on her way home on 22 September when Raju, who had been making advances, grabbed her hand. She managed to run home and reported the matter to her husband and they decided to approach the Panchayat on next day. However, a group of 15 people barged into their house and abused Muthumari and tried to outrage her modesty. Raju's wife accused Muthumari of trying to insinuate her husband and allegedly threw a bucketful of human excreta. Thereafter, Muthumari was forced to drink excreta mixed with water. The report says that the accused are still roaming free even after police complaints were filed.
The Commission noted that if the allegations in this news report were true, they raised a serious concern of not only violation of human rights of dalits but an assault on the dignity of the victim, Smt. Muthumari.
In respect of the second incident, a news item appeared in a national daily on 15th October entitled "Cops force accused to drink urine". According to it, the police allegedly forced an accused, Rajesh Tiwari to drink urine and placed human and pig excreta in his mouth, in village Ittoli in the Mazgawan area. The report further disclosed that Policemen kept a shoe on the head of the accused, hung a placard around his neck stating, "Apradh Karna pap hai, police hamari bap hai" and made him march down the village.
The Chairperson of the Commission, Dr. Justice A.S Anand observed that if the allegations in the above news report were true, they raised very serious issues of violation of human rights of the citizens by the police. He directed that a copy of the news item be sent to the Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh for his comments in three weeks.
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A newspaper report in a National daily alleged that Muthumari, wife of a labourer, Pitchai, was forced to drink 'excreta'. The Commission issued notice to the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu to look into the allegations and submit his comments on it within four weeks.
According to the report, "38 year old Dalit woman was allegedly forced to drink excreta mixed with water in front of her husband and children after she spurned the advances of an upper caste villager in Keela Urappanur village, Thirumangalam Block, Madurai District, Tamil Nadu. The victim Muthumari told the media persons that a group of 'high caste' people also splashed human excreta on her family". It is reported that the victim was on her way home on 22 September when Raju, who had been making advances, grabbed her hand. She managed to run home and reported the matter to her husband and they decided to approach the Panchayat on next day. However, a group of 15 people barged into their house and abused Muthumari and tried to outrage her modesty. Raju's wife accused Muthumari of trying to insinuate her husband and allegedly threw a bucketful of human excreta. Thereafter, Muthumari was forced to drink excreta mixed with water. The report says that the accused are still roaming free even after police complaints were filed.
The Commission noted that if the allegations in this news report were true, they raised a serious concern of not only violation of human rights of dalits but an assault on the dignity of the victim, Smt. Muthumari.
In respect of the second incident, a news item appeared in a national daily on 15th October entitled "Cops force accused to drink urine". According to it, the police allegedly forced an accused, Rajesh Tiwari to drink urine and placed human and pig excreta in his mouth, in village Ittoli in the Mazgawan area. The report further disclosed that Policemen kept a shoe on the head of the accused, hung a placard around his neck stating, "Apradh Karna pap hai, police hamari bap hai" and made him march down the village.
The Chairperson of the Commission, Dr. Justice A.S Anand observed that if the allegations in the above news report were true, they raised very serious issues of violation of human rights of the citizens by the police. He directed that a copy of the news item be sent to the Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh for his comments in three weeks.
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