UP gets NHRC notice on compensation to gangrape victim

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today issued a show cause notice to the Uttar Pradesh government regarding compensation to a gangrape victim.
Terming the incident as "disturbing and shocking", the Commission has issued a notice to UP Chief Secretary asking why monetary relief should not be recommended to be paid to the victim, an NHRC statement said here.
NHRC has given the state six-week time to respond, the statement said.
Taking a suo motu cognisance of a media report about an alleged gangrape of a girl in Bijnore on April 11, NHRC had on April 18 issued a notice to the UP government, which had confirmed the incident and the local police inaction in the case.

According to the reports, the unconscious girl was left bleeding in an open field by the rapists and she was spotted by her uncle the next day.
"The state government's reports revealed that when the girl and her family members approached Afzalgarh police station to lodge a complaint, the police, instead of initiating any legal action, mounted pressure on the victim and her family members to enter into a compromise. The victim was even physically assaulted by a woman constable," the statement said.

A complaint was finally registered on April 15 against two persons when the victim's father approached the Additional SP (Rural) Bijnore.

A criminal case was also registered against the SHO, sub- inspector and woman constable on April 16 for delay in registration of the case. The trio have been placed under suspension and departmental action has been initiated against them, the statement said.
The Commission has also asked the UP DGP to submit the status of both the criminal cases and the outcome of the departmental action against the delinquent police personnel within six weeks.