NHRC notice to DM, SP, Jaipaiguri District, West Bengal over alleged rape and murder of an SC girl in Dhupguri (19.09.2014)

New Delhi, 19th September, 2014

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a 15 year old scheduled caste girl was allegedly gang raped and murdered after she protested the humiliation of her family at a Kangaroo Court in Jaipaiguri District, West Bengal. Her naked body was found near the railway tracks at Dhupguri.

Reportedly, she had pleaded with villagers not to beat her father, after his request for some more time to make payment for a power tiller was turned down by the 'Salishi Sabha' (self appointed village court) which was convened at Dhupguri on the 1st September, 2014. The father of the deceased had lodged an FIR against 13 persons (including local leaders of Trinamool Congress and their supporters) at the Dhupguri police station for rape, murder and kidnapping of his daughter.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim scheduled caste family. Accordingly, a notice has been issued to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Jalpaiguri District calling for a factual report within two weeks.

They have also been asked to elaborate on the sanctity of the ' Kangaroo Courts", status of the criminal case registered against the 13 accused as well as details of the monetary relief provided to the victim's family in accordance with the provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules.
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