The National Human Rights Commission, has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that a 20-year-old girl hailing from Manipur, was subjected to racial discrimination and brutally attacked by some locals from Faizapur, Gurugram in Haryana just for passing through the locality on Sunday afternoon.
Reportedly, she was eventually saved by some people, and police was called. But the police officials who reached the spot asked the victim to compromise. The victim then had to call the North East Support Centre & Helpline (NESCH). The NESCH members reached the spot at 8:30 PM and then only the statement of the victim was recorded for registration of an FIR.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, amount to serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim.
The police instead of initiating the requisite legal process, asked the victim to compromise.
Accordingly, a notice has been issued to the the Chief Secretary, Government of Haryana and the Commissioner of Police, Gurugram calling for a detailed report in the matter, within four weeks along with status of the investigation being conducted by the police after registration of the FIR and relief/counselling provided by the authorities to the victim. The Commission would also like to know about present health condition of the victim and the status of the medical treatment being provided to her by the district authorities.
The Commission further observed that,
it is disgusting that a woman from North-Eastern part of her own country has been subjected to racial discrimination and physical assault by a local family in the NCR region .
Apparently, the police personnel failed to do justice with the situation and take necessary action. They should have realized the impact of trauma and mental agony, the woman was undergoing due to the tragic incident.
According to the media reports, the victim was stopped by an elderly woman, who rudely interrupted her from passing through the road stating that it was a private property.
The old woman reportedly abused her in a racial tone and as the altercation started the victim was called “corona”.
In the meantime, the other family members also came out and started beating the victim with sticks. The woman, who was also hit on her head, was somehow saved by some local people and the police was called. Reportedly, the victim is presently undergoing medical treatment and her CT scan results are awaited.
National Human Rights Commission
[Press Release dt. 16-05-2020]
