NHRC notice to Bihar govt over alleged assault and stripping of Dalit woman

The Commission has asked for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. The report should also include the status of the FIR, physical as well as mental health status of the victim woman and compensation, if any, granted to her, NHRC said in a statement.

The NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a 30-year-old woman belonging to Scheduled Caste, was allegedly assaulted, stripped and urinated upon in Mosimpur village of Patna on September 23.

Reportedly, she was subjected to torture and inhuman treatment after purportedly failing to repay additional interest on a loan, amounting to Rs 1,500 which she had borrowed from a local strongman, it said.

The victim, reported to belong to the Scheduled Caste community is also eligible for the compensation as per provision of Rules framed under the SC/ST (PoA) Act. The authorities are expected to explain in the report about the status of the installment of the compensation given to the victim.

The victim has passed through a trauma and hence, it is also expected from the State government to intimate whether any counselling has been provided to her, the statement said.

According to the media report, carried on September 25 the accused had approached the victim four days before the incident, coercing her to repay an additional amount as interest and the victim had reported the matter to the police.

The accused, reportedly, belong to a dominant caste, while there are only a few Scheduled Caste families residing in the village, who have stated that they are in fear and are thinking of leaving the place for some days, it said.