NHRC notice to UP over torture of Dalit

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Friday issued notice to the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police in Jhansi over ill-treatment and force-feeding of human excreta to a Dalit youth in Uttar Pradesh.

The NHRC has asked the district authorities to send a report about Sujan Singh, who was thrashed, tortured and forced to eat human excreta by some people with whom he had a land dispute.

The Commission took suo motu cognizance of media reports that the victim was brutally assaulted by some people over a land dispute in Khera village Sep 18, 2014. His head was later shaved off and his private parts were set on fire.

"The contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the Dalit victim," said the NHRC.

According to the Commission, the father of the victim has alleged that the family had been receiving death threats and despite informing the police, no action was taken.

"The district magistrate and senior superintendent of police have been given a notice and asked to reply within two weeks," it said.

The victim, currently undergoing treatment in a city hospital, has given a statement to police based on which some arrests have been made, an official told IANS.