The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the West Bengal government over the alleged rape and murder of a scheduled caste girl in Jalpaiguri District.
"The Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that a 15-year-old scheduled caste girl was allegedly gangraped and murdered after she protested the humiliation of her family at a Kangaroo Court in Jalpaiguri District of West Bengal. Her naked body was found near the railway tracks at Dhupguri," the Commission said in a statement.
Reportedly, the girl had pleaded with villagers not to beat her father, after his request for some more time to make payment for a power tiller was turned down by the 'Salishi Sabha' (self appointed village court) which was convened at Dhupguri on September 1.
The father of the deceased had lodged an FIR against 13 persons, including some local leaders said to be of Trinamool Congress and their supporters, at the Dhupguri police station for rape, murder and kidnapping of his daughter.
"The contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim who belonged to scheduled caste family," observed the Commission.
The notice has been issued to the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police in Jalpaiguri District and a report has been sought within two weeks.
They have also been asked to elaborate on the sanctity of the 'Kangaroo Courts' and provide an update on status of the criminal case registered against the 13 accused as well as details of the monetary relief provided to the victim's family in accordance with the provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules.
