NHRC asks Himachal to pay monetary relief to rape victim

The NHRC has asked the Himachal government to pay monetary relief to a gang rape victim, turning down the government's contention that since the three accused policemen were not on duty at the time of the incident, it is not liable to pay.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the state government to pay Rs.3 lakh as monetary relief to the victim in the case that is pending before a court.

The chief secretary has been asked to send proof of payment within six weeks, said a NHRC release Thursday.

The commission took cognizance of a complaint alleging that three police constables in Mandi town gang-raped a woman July 1, 2013.

The woman, a resident of Jogindernagar in Mandi district, had gone to Mandi for some work. One of the accused allegedly lured her to his private quarters and two of his friends joined him in sexually assaulting the women.

The state contended that the accused constables did not misuse their power as at the time of incident, none of them was on duty and that the incident did not take place in a police station. Therefore, the state government was not liable to pay monetary relief.

The NHRC, however, said the inquiry revealed that one of the constables was in a drunken state while on duty at the time of the incident.

The conduct of the three police personnel was unbecoming of a public servant and that they had violated the human rights of the victim. Hence, the NHRC recommended the monetary relief, the commission said.