NHRC notice to the Government of Uttar Pradesh over the reported suicide by the father of a rape victim due to unlawful action by the police in the Pilibhit district

New Delhi, 22nd May, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suomotu cognizance of a media report that a 45-year-old farmer committed suicide when the police forced a compromise with the perpetrators of the kidnapping and rape of his minor daughter in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh. Reportedly, the victim belonged to the Scheduled Caste.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to a violation of human rights. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh calling for a detailed report within 4 weeks. It should also include the present status of the matter and disbursement of the monetary relief to the victim under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995. The Commission would also like to know about the action taken against the delinquent officer, responsible for the tragedy.

According to the media report, carried on 19th May, 2023, the girl was kidnapped by the accused persons when she was going to meet her father at a farm on 9th May, 2023. Her father filed a police complaint the next day but the police, instead of registering an FIR, forced a compromise between the survivor and the accused persons in the presence of some relatives. The police neither called nor informed the parents of the victim girl and closed the matter. Allegedly, upset with this, the father of the girl committed suicide on 17th May, 2023.

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