NHRC notices to Bihar govt, DGP over reports of minor girl being 'assaulted, paraded naked'

The NHRC has sent notices to the Bihar government and the state's police chief over reports that a minor girl was allegedly assaulted, tonsured and paraded naked after having been dragged out from her house by six persons in Araria district.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday said it has has taken suo motu cognisance of reports while emphasising there was an "immediate need" for the law enforcing agencies to be "more active, vigilant and attentive" with a zeal to stop such disgraceful incidents tarnishing the image of the state and the country.

While issuing the notices, the NHRC also said that recently it had taken suo motu cognisance of another incident in Bihar, in which a woman was paraded naked in Bihiya village of the Bhojpur district.

 

The Commission has issued notices to the chief secretary and the director general of police, Bihar, seeking a detailed factual report on both the incidents mentioned in the news reports.

"The Commission would also like to know as to what is the action plan with the state government to deal with such shameful incidents. The response is expected within four weeks," the statement said.

According to reports, the minor girl was "assaulted, tonsured and paraded naked after having been dragged out from her house by six persons in Araria on August 31".

"Reportedly, her tormentors also tried to mutilate her private parts. The news report carried another story in the box stating that after Muzaffarpur and Patna, a shelter home in Begusarai district of Bihar has come under the scanner when one of its residents tried to commit suicide by consuming glass pieces on September 2," it said.

A report in the matter is awaited from the chief secretary and the DGP, the NHRC said.

The Additional General of Police, headquarters, Bihar has been reportedly "claiming that there is a decline in the violent incidents against women, but the news reports are telling a different story raising serious issues of violation of human rights of the innocent victims, especially minor girls and women", it added.