NHRC notice to Bihar govt, police in school girl murder case

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to Bihar government and the state police for alleged inaction in the murder case of a Class X girl in Hajipur.
The Commission, taking cognisance of a complaint by a member of the National Commission for Women in connection with the case, has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Bihar.
It has also sought a detailed report on the matter in six weeks including the steps being taken by the state government or proposed to prevent such incidents, the NHRC said in a statement.
The NCW member had sought the Commission's intervention in the murder case of the girl, a student of Ambedkar Awasiya Balika Uchh Vidylaya, a government resident school in Dighi (Majirabad) in Hajipur. Her body was found in a drain near the gate of the hostel on January 8.

"It is stated that the victim had complained that one of the teachers of the school was mounting pressure on her for sexual favours. She has observed that police are not taking proper action in the matter even as the family of the victim is being threatened," the statement said.
The Commission has also observed that the content of the complaint raises serious issue of violation of the right to life and dignity of the girl students studying in the school and residing in the hostel.

"It is mentioned in the complaint that some resourceful persons of the locality, in connivance with police and administration, are trying to hush up the case and mounting pressure on the victim's family by threatening them," the rights panel said.

"Being guardian of the students, the school authorities are bound to provide safety and security to them. Such incidents are indicative of not only negligent attitude of the authorities but require immediate action against responsible teachers/staff of the school," the NHRC said.
The NCW member had visited the school as well as the residence of the victim in Muzaffarpur district.
"She (member) found that the school was in a very bad condition. Heaps of garbage were piled up inside the school premises. It is cleaned only by the students as there is no other arrangement.
"The place where the food is prepared for the students is also full of filth with bad odour. There is only one hand-pump in the school for 345 girl students," the Commission said.

The students had complained that the premises is not safe. Wild animals and anti-social elements often enter inside the school, it said.