NHRC issues notice to the Bihar Government in an issue of a Panchayat deciding to set free rapists by just imposing a fine of Rs. one lakh <br> <br>

Dated: 14th July, 2011

The National Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of a complaint based on a media report alleging that a village Panchayat in Bihar decided to hush up a case of gang rape by four rapists by asking them to merely pay a fine of Rs. one lakh. Allegedly, the Panchayat's sense of justice did not stop at that point as they also forced the victim to divorce her husband. The incident is reported to have happened at village Girdih, District Jamui of the state in October last year. The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Bihar, calling for detailed reports within four weeks in the matter.
The complainant has prayed for inquiry into the matter after registering an FIR, providing appropriate police protection to the victim and directing to initiate other actions as deemed fit in the matter.
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