Hathras rape case: NHRC issues notice to UP govt; makes scathing observation on police

Amid nationwide uproar, National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) has issued a tice to Uttar Presh Chief Secretary and Director-General of Police over gang rape and death of a 19-year-old Dalit woman in Hathras district.

victim was brutally gang-raped by four men on September 14. woman, who suffered spinal injuries, paralysis, and cuts in her tongue, died at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital in early hours of Tuesday.

In its tice,  Commission directed state government to provide equate protection to family of deceased as part of witness protection while expressing concern re may be a danger to m from or communities.

" DGP, U.P. is expected to look personally into matter to ensure a speedy trial so that culprits could be punished by competent court without any furr delay. In current scenario, it is necessary that family of deceased as well as or members of SC Community residing in vill are provided proper protection by police. Both authorities are expected to submit ir report, within stipulated time," NHRC said.

In a scathing observation, Commission said it has gone through "very painful" media reports about incident and said it is apparent that UP police was t able to take timely action to trace and save victim girl due to which young woman could t be saved from being subjected to grave cruelty. " way perpetrators have acted shows that y h fear of law in ir mind."

Moreover, Commission also pointed out allegations me by family that police forcibly took away body of deceased for cremation in wee hours of Wednesday which it said raises many questions about law and order situation in UP.

"Many such incidents have occurred in State of Uttar Presh where members of Scheduled Community have been subjected to discrimination and harassment by people belonging to upper caste. re have been number of instances of leveling allegations of inaction against police authorities and ministration. This is a serious issue of violation of human rights," NHRC said in its tice.

 Commission has sought responses from state authorities within four weeks.

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Refuting allegation by victim's family of cremating her without ir consent, state G Prashant Kumar has said funeral was conducted with consent of family and in ir presence, as body was putrefying. 

According to reports, a major scuffle broke out between villrs and district magistrate and or senior police officials in early hours of Wednesday as police rushed to cremate body while family kept demanding its possession for final rites. villrs claimed that family h t been allowed to leave residence and police blocked anyone from reaching ambulance or lit pyre.

Yogi govt forms SIT to fast-track case

Meanwhile, UP CM on Wednesday said that a three-member SIT has been set up to investigate Hathras gangrape incident. CM said that team will submit a report within seven days and has also directed for trial of case in a fast-track court.

three-member team comprising of state Home Secretary Bhagwan Swarup will also comprise members from Dalit community along with women members. Furr, Yogi ityanath has also spoken to Prime Minister on case, where PM Modi has said that strict action must be taken against culprit

state government has anunced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh and a house along with a government job to one family member. CM also spoke to family via video-link and assured woman's far of stringent action against four men who have been arrested.

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