Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Wednesday served a show cause on the state government in connection with the rape of a 19-year-old differently-abled girl by a police official under Thakurmunda police limits in Mayurbhanj in June 2020.
Hearing a plea filed by rights activist Himanshu Sekhar Nayak (Case-1548/18/9/2020-WC), the commission asked the state government, through the Chief Secretary, to show cause within six weeks as to why adequate amount of interim relief should not be recommended for the rape victim at a time when her human rights have been violated by a public servant.
The NHRC has also asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to turn up within the same period with the report on the outcome of the departmental action initiated against the delinquent police official in the case.
The commission posted the hearing to October 21, 2021.
Accused Mohammed Azaruddin Khan, who had been working as a driver at Thakurmunda police station, found the hapless girl alone at her home in the tribal-dominated district and outraged her modesty June 4, 2020, the petitioner informed the commission quoting the police complaint.
The apex rights body took cognisance of the case July 1, 2020 and sought a report from the Mayurbhanj superintendent of police (SP) within four weeks.
In response, the SP informed the NHRC that a case (54) under Sections 457, 376(2) (I) and 506 of the IPC had been registered with the Thakurmunda police and the accused, who hails from Pandua under Ramchandrapur police limits in Keonjhar, was arrested June 5, 2020. Subsequently, Khan was also suspended from his service a few hours after his arrest.
“Following investigation, a chargesheet has been filed vide Thakurmunda PS C.S No.101 dt.31.08.2020 u/s 457/376(2)(I)/506 IPC and the case is now sub judice,” the SP said in his response.