NHRC issues notices to UP govt, Union Jal Shakti Ministry over alleged gang-rape, murder of girl in Kheri

National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of reports that a 13-yr-old girl was gang-raped and killed when she had gone to relieve herself on the farmland owned by one of the accused on August 15.

The commission has issued notices to Chief Secretary and DGP of Uttar Pradesh, calling for detailed reports within 6 weeks.

"The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that a 13 year old girl belonging to Scheduled Caste was gang-raped and killed when she had gone to relieve herself on the farmland owned by one of the accused on 15th August, 2020. Reportedly the victim was tortured before strangled to death. It is mentioned in the news report that there is a toilet in the victim's house but it's not functional," said a press release from the NHRC.

It said, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and DGP, Government of Uttar Pradesh calling for detailed reports in the matter within 6 weeks including disbursement of the statutory relief as per rules framed under provisions of the SC/ST (POA) Act to the family of the victim, action taken against the guilty and the status of the FIRs registered in the matter. The Chief Secretary is also expected to sensitize the district authorities in the State to create awareness that the toilets should not be constructed for mere fulfillment of the government records, they are to be actually made functional.

the press release said, the Commission found it appropriate to forward a copy of the news item to the Secretary, Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, which is the Nodal Ministry for the 'Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan.' It is expected from the Ministry to issue guidelines to all the States and Union Territories to ensure that the toilets are not only constructed but also used to make the country clean and save the women from the heinous crimes committed by anti-social elements when they go out to relieve themselves. He is also expected to respond within 6 weeks.

"According to the media reports, both the accused have been arrested by the police. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Kheri has reportedly stated that the FIR has been registered under relevant sections of IPC and POCSO Act. He has further added that the National Security Act will be slapped against the accused who were arrested by the police within few hours after the incident," the press release from the NHRC added.

National Security Act (NSA) will be invoked against two men accused of gangrape of a 13-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district, the police said on Saturday.

The girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Isanagar in Lakhimpur Kheri on Friday. Later, the police recovered her body from a sugarcane field in Isanagar.

Satyendra Kumar, Superintendent of Police (SP), Lakhimpur Kheri has said two men have been booked under offences of murder and gangrape, adding that action will also be taken against them under the NSA.

"Body of a 13-year-old was found from a sugarcane field in Isanagar. An FIR has been registered. Post mortem report has confirmed rape. Two men Santosh Yadav and Sanjay Gautam have been arrested and sent to jail," Kumar told reporters.

"They have been booked under Section 302 (murder) and Section 376 (D) (gangrape) of the Indian Penal Code. Action against both accused will be taken under the National Security Act (NSA) as well," he had said.

( With inputs from ANI )