News Analysis India

Tag: National Commission for Women

  • Manipur viral video: No response from state authorities despite reaching out thrice, says NCW chief

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma on Friday said she had reached out thrice in the last three months to authorities in Manipur over incidents of violence against women but no response was received from them.

    She was responding to reports in a section of the media that claimed the commission had on June 12 received a complaint about the incident of two women being paraded naked on May 4 in the ethnic violence-hit northeastern state but had not taken any action.

    The May 4 video surfaced online on July 19. Sharma denied receiving any report of the incident.

    However, the NCW chief said that she had received other complaints regarding women’s issues and for that, she had reached out thrice to authorities in Manipur but no response was received from them.

    ALSO READ | Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 noon; Rajnath says govt ready for discussion on Manipur incidents

    She also shared the letters sent to authorities in the state. Sharma had written to them over complaints of incidents of violence against women.

    ALSO READ | PM should make an elaborate statement on Manipur in Parliament: Mallikarjun Kharge

    “We had to verify the authenticity, and also the complaints were not from Manipur, some were not even from India. We reached out to authorities but no response was received from them but then we took suo motu cognisance when the video (of women being paraded naked) went viral yesterday,” Sharma said.

    ALSO READ | Manipur viral video: CM Biren Singh says capital punishment considered against culprits

    The letters were written on May 18, May 29 and June 19.

    The NCW chief said she took suo motu cognisance of the incident on Friday after the video surfaced and sought an explanation from authorities on the matter.

    Tension mounted in the hills of Manipur after the May 4 video surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a group of men from the other side.

    NEW DELHI: National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma on Friday said she had reached out thrice in the last three months to authorities in Manipur over incidents of violence against women but no response was received from them.

    She was responding to reports in a section of the media that claimed the commission had on June 12 received a complaint about the incident of two women being paraded naked on May 4 in the ethnic violence-hit northeastern state but had not taken any action.

    The May 4 video surfaced online on July 19. Sharma denied receiving any report of the incident.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    However, the NCW chief said that she had received other complaints regarding women’s issues and for that, she had reached out thrice to authorities in Manipur but no response was received from them.

    ALSO READ | Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 noon; Rajnath says govt ready for discussion on Manipur incidents

    She also shared the letters sent to authorities in the state. Sharma had written to them over complaints of incidents of violence against women.

    ALSO READ | PM should make an elaborate statement on Manipur in Parliament: Mallikarjun Kharge

    “We had to verify the authenticity, and also the complaints were not from Manipur, some were not even from India. We reached out to authorities but no response was received from them but then we took suo motu cognisance when the video (of women being paraded naked) went viral yesterday,” Sharma said.

    ALSO READ | Manipur viral video: CM Biren Singh says capital punishment considered against culprits

    The letters were written on May 18, May 29 and June 19.

    The NCW chief said she took suo motu cognisance of the incident on Friday after the video surfaced and sought an explanation from authorities on the matter.

    Tension mounted in the hills of Manipur after the May 4 video surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a group of men from the other side.

  • Enough evidence of girls being forced into prostitution in Rajasthan: NCW

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Women on Friday said there is “enough evidence” to suggest that young girls are being forced into prostitution in numerous districts of Rajasthan, with highways being the most common locations, and asked the Centre to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe possible child prostitution and trafficking racket. 

    The NCW, which had formed a two-member team following a report that in the Rajasthan area of Bhilwara, conflicts over loan repayments were purportedly resolved by auctioning off young women on stamp papers, said they have also found evidence of child marriages.

    NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma, who had earlier written to the state Chief Secretary and Director General of Police on the matter, also visited Sawai Madhopur to inquire into the situation.

    Following interactions with different families residing in the region, police and local administration, the two-member team said that “there is enough evidence to conclude that young girls are being forced into prostitution in numerous districts of Rajasthan, including Sawai Madhopur, Bhilwara, and Bharatpur, with highway sides being the most common locations.” 

    The team also discovered that the family registrations in the Bhilwara district village of Kanjar Basti, Pander, which were supposed to be updated, were deficient in key details about how many families are residing there. 

    NCW said that the communities provided further evidence that child marriages are still common in the state, as the local media had reported such instances. “The district administration and police are totally in denial and have failed to address the issue,” a statement issued by the NCW said.

    “Due to threats from the Panchayat and local government, the people are under pressure to conceal the true extent of child prostitution and trafficking,” it added and recommended that the central government must constitute an SIT to carry out the probe.

    During interaction with families, it was observed that every family had six to nine minor girls living under one roof. These girls could not explain their relationship with others in the family. 

    “To establish the relationship, DNA tests on young girls and their respective families must be performed. It is crucial to rescue and provide proper rehabilitation to minor girls who have been coerced into forced prostitution,” it further said.

    The women’s panel also said that Rajasthan seems to be both a source and a destination for the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation, prostitution, etc. 

    Suggesting that the state government should keep a track record of every girl child who is born, it said that enforcement agencies must be proactive in dealing with such issues. 

    “Economic livelihood activities and awareness programs pertaining to the mental and physical health of girls must be focused to improve the condition,” it added.

    NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Women on Friday said there is “enough evidence” to suggest that young girls are being forced into prostitution in numerous districts of Rajasthan, with highways being the most common locations, and asked the Centre to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe possible child prostitution and trafficking racket. 

    The NCW, which had formed a two-member team following a report that in the Rajasthan area of Bhilwara, conflicts over loan repayments were purportedly resolved by auctioning off young women on stamp papers, said they have also found evidence of child marriages.

    NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma, who had earlier written to the state Chief Secretary and Director General of Police on the matter, also visited Sawai Madhopur to inquire into the situation.

    Following interactions with different families residing in the region, police and local administration, the two-member team said that “there is enough evidence to conclude that young girls are being forced into prostitution in numerous districts of Rajasthan, including Sawai Madhopur, Bhilwara, and Bharatpur, with highway sides being the most common locations.” 

    The team also discovered that the family registrations in the Bhilwara district village of Kanjar Basti, Pander, which were supposed to be updated, were deficient in key details about how many families are residing there. 

    NCW said that the communities provided further evidence that child marriages are still common in the state, as the local media had reported such instances. “The district administration and police are totally in denial and have failed to address the issue,” a statement issued by the NCW said.

    “Due to threats from the Panchayat and local government, the people are under pressure to conceal the true extent of child prostitution and trafficking,” it added and recommended that the central government must constitute an SIT to carry out the probe.

    During interaction with families, it was observed that every family had six to nine minor girls living under one roof. These girls could not explain their relationship with others in the family. 

    “To establish the relationship, DNA tests on young girls and their respective families must be performed. It is crucial to rescue and provide proper rehabilitation to minor girls who have been coerced into forced prostitution,” it further said.

    The women’s panel also said that Rajasthan seems to be both a source and a destination for the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation, prostitution, etc. 

    Suggesting that the state government should keep a track record of every girl child who is born, it said that enforcement agencies must be proactive in dealing with such issues. 

    “Economic livelihood activities and awareness programs pertaining to the mental and physical health of girls must be focused to improve the condition,” it added.

  • NCW forms fact-finding team to probe into ‘auction’ of girls in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara

    By Agencies

    NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Women on Friday formed a two-member fact-finding team to look into allegations of auctioning off of girls for loan repayment in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district, it said in a release.

    The women’s panel said it had come across several media reports about girls being auctioned off to settle disputes over loan repayments in Bhilwara.

    It has been reported that in many settlements, girls are sold into prostitution on stamp paper. In some cases, their mothers are raped on the diktat of ‘khap’ (caste) panchayats for the settlement of disputes, it said.

    NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) issued a notice to Rajasthan govt on reports that girls, aged b/w 8-18, in half a dozen districts of Rajasthan are sold on Stamp Paper, & if not, their mothers are subjected to rape on diktats of caste panchayats for settlement of disputes. pic.twitter.com/4MFzutRgNT
    — ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2022
    In its statement, the women’s panel called the reported crimes “extremely appalling and traumatising” and said it had constituted a two-member fact-finding team to look into the matter.

    National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma has also written to the Rajasthan chief secretary and demanded urgent action.

    @NCWIndia has taken cognizance of the matter. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to Chief Secretary, Rajasthan to take urgent action. NCW has also written to DGP @PoliceRajasthan to immediately invoke relevant provisions in the FIR & to arrest all the accused at the earliest. pic.twitter.com/fwRgUHdAyy
    — NCW (@NCWIndia) October 28, 2022
    According to Scroll.in, in its notice, the National Human Rights Commission directed the chief secretary of the Rajasthan government to submit a detailed report on the matter, along with an action taken report within four weeks.

    “The report must also contain how the state government is ensuring the functions of the gram panchayat, as per the constitutional provisions or Panchayati Raj Law to eradicate the caste-based system impinging the human rights and the right to dignity of girls and women in the state,” it said.

    The commission has also written to the Director General of Police in Rajasthan to immediately lodge an FIR under relevant sections and arrest the accused at the earliest.

    A copy of the letter has been sent to the Superintendent of Police in Bhilwara.

    Priyank Kanoongo, chairperson of the apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, will also visit Bhilwara on November 7 to conduct a detailed probe into the allegations.

    Kanoongo said he would look into the nexus of people involved and the number of villages affected.

    However, Rajasthan minister Pratap Khachariyawas refuted the reports of the selling of girls in the State.

    “It is a matter of investigation. When such information comes out, we can’t know the truth until there is a probe. NHRC should have spoken to the Rajasthan police first about this. Selling of girls doesn’t happen in the state,” said Khachariyawas.

    A report published in Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar on October 25 alleged that girls aged between 8 to 18 are auctioned to settle disputes in the state, particularly involving financial transactions or loans.

    “If not, their mothers are raped on the diktat of caste panchayats for the settlement,” the report claimed. “These girls are sent to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Delhi and even foreign countries.”

    NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Women on Friday formed a two-member fact-finding team to look into allegations of auctioning off of girls for loan repayment in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district, it said in a release.

    The women’s panel said it had come across several media reports about girls being auctioned off to settle disputes over loan repayments in Bhilwara.

    It has been reported that in many settlements, girls are sold into prostitution on stamp paper. In some cases, their mothers are raped on the diktat of ‘khap’ (caste) panchayats for the settlement of disputes, it said.

    NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) issued a notice to Rajasthan govt on reports that girls, aged b/w 8-18, in half a dozen districts of Rajasthan are sold on Stamp Paper, & if not, their mothers are subjected to rape on diktats of caste panchayats for settlement of disputes. pic.twitter.com/4MFzutRgNT
    — ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2022
    In its statement, the women’s panel called the reported crimes “extremely appalling and traumatising” and said it had constituted a two-member fact-finding team to look into the matter.

    National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma has also written to the Rajasthan chief secretary and demanded urgent action.

    @NCWIndia has taken cognizance of the matter. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to Chief Secretary, Rajasthan to take urgent action. NCW has also written to DGP @PoliceRajasthan to immediately invoke relevant provisions in the FIR & to arrest all the accused at the earliest. pic.twitter.com/fwRgUHdAyy
    — NCW (@NCWIndia) October 28, 2022
    According to Scroll.in, in its notice, the National Human Rights Commission directed the chief secretary of the Rajasthan government to submit a detailed report on the matter, along with an action taken report within four weeks.

    “The report must also contain how the state government is ensuring the functions of the gram panchayat, as per the constitutional provisions or Panchayati Raj Law to eradicate the caste-based system impinging the human rights and the right to dignity of girls and women in the state,” it said.

    The commission has also written to the Director General of Police in Rajasthan to immediately lodge an FIR under relevant sections and arrest the accused at the earliest.

    A copy of the letter has been sent to the Superintendent of Police in Bhilwara.

    Priyank Kanoongo, chairperson of the apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, will also visit Bhilwara on November 7 to conduct a detailed probe into the allegations.

    Kanoongo said he would look into the nexus of people involved and the number of villages affected.

    However, Rajasthan minister Pratap Khachariyawas refuted the reports of the selling of girls in the State.

    “It is a matter of investigation. When such information comes out, we can’t know the truth until there is a probe. NHRC should have spoken to the Rajasthan police first about this. Selling of girls doesn’t happen in the state,” said Khachariyawas.

    A report published in Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar on October 25 alleged that girls aged between 8 to 18 are auctioned to settle disputes in the state, particularly involving financial transactions or loans.

    “If not, their mothers are raped on the diktat of caste panchayats for the settlement,” the report claimed. “These girls are sent to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Delhi and even foreign countries.”

  • Veteran Congress leader Jayanti Patnaik is passes away

    By PTI

    BHUBANESHWAR: Senior Congress leader and first chairperson of the National Commission for Women Jayanti Patnaik died here on Wednesday. She was 90.

    Jayanti Patnaik, a four-time MP and wife of late Odisha chief minister J B Patnaik, was declared dead by doctors at a hospital here, her son Pritiv Ballav Patnaik said.

    Her husband and former Odisha chief minister and ex-Governor of Assam J B Patnaik had passed away in 2015. She is survived by a son and two daughters.

    Jayanti Patnaik, who was married to J B Patnaik in 1953, was elected to the Lok Sabha from both Cuttack and Berhampur.

    Jayanti Patnaik, who was suffering from old-age-related aliment, was taken to the hospital as she did not respond in the evening, her son said, adding they were yet to decide on her funeral. Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal condoled Jayanti Patnaik’s death.

    “Odisha Governor expressed his grief over the demise of former MP, senior politician and a noted writer Jayanti Patnaik. Her contribution to the field of literature will be remembered,” the Raj Bhavan said in a statement.

    Jayanti Patnaik was born on April 7, 1932, at Aska in Ganjam district and completed her graduation in Sociology from Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College in Cuttack.

    She did her post-graduation from Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS), Mumbai. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, OPCC president Sarat Pattnayak, ex-OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik and many other dignitaries condoled her demise.

    BHUBANESHWAR: Senior Congress leader and first chairperson of the National Commission for Women Jayanti Patnaik died here on Wednesday. She was 90.

    Jayanti Patnaik, a four-time MP and wife of late Odisha chief minister J B Patnaik, was declared dead by doctors at a hospital here, her son Pritiv Ballav Patnaik said.

    Her husband and former Odisha chief minister and ex-Governor of Assam J B Patnaik had passed away in 2015. She is survived by a son and two daughters.

    Jayanti Patnaik, who was married to J B Patnaik in 1953, was elected to the Lok Sabha from both Cuttack and Berhampur.

    Jayanti Patnaik, who was suffering from old-age-related aliment, was taken to the hospital as she did not respond in the evening, her son said, adding they were yet to decide on her funeral. Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal condoled Jayanti Patnaik’s death.

    “Odisha Governor expressed his grief over the demise of former MP, senior politician and a noted writer Jayanti Patnaik. Her contribution to the field of literature will be remembered,” the Raj Bhavan said in a statement.

    Jayanti Patnaik was born on April 7, 1932, at Aska in Ganjam district and completed her graduation in Sociology from Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College in Cuttack.

    She did her post-graduation from Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS), Mumbai. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, OPCC president Sarat Pattnayak, ex-OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik and many other dignitaries condoled her demise.

  • Dumka girl’s death: NCW seeks report from Jharkhand DGP; BJP, JMM engage in slugfest

    By PTI

    DUMKA: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday sought a report from the Jharkhand director general of police on the death of the teenaged girl who succumbed after being set afire by a man apparently after she spurned his advances.

    The state government’s decision to send another teenager, who is an acid attack victim, to AIIMS in New Delhi for better treatment sparked a war of words between the ruling and opposition camps of the state with the BJP wondering why the Dumka girl did not get the same facility.

    A two-member NCW team visited the family members of the deceased in Dumka.

    “We have sought a report from the DGP. We came here to take a first-hand report of the incident,” NCW member Shalini Singh told reporters.

    A team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is also scheduled to visit Dumka on September 4, officials said.

    Though the police had initially claimed that the deceased was an adult, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Dumka district later said that the class 12 student who died days after being set on fire was a minor.

    The main accused, identified as Shahrukh, on August 23 allegedly poured petrol on the girl from outside the window of her room when she was sleeping and set her on fire.

    The teenager succumbed to her injuries on August 28.

    Shahrukh was arrested.

    Leaders of the BJP and opposition BJP, and the Congress and the JMM, on behalf of the ruling coalition, also visited her family.

    BJP leaders – Godda MP Nishikant Dubey, North-east Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari and former Delhi legislator Kapil Mishra – met the family members of the victim during the day and alleged that ‘severe negligence’ and ‘appeasement politics of the ruling dispensation led to her death.

    They raised questions about why she was not taken to Delhi by air ambulance like the acid attack victim and why no member of Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s family visited her family.

    “The CM and others had time to enjoy picnic and party at dams and resorts. But not a member of the Soren family visited the victim,” Dubey said.

    Amid a political crisis triggered by an EC ruling on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s continuance as an MLA, MLAs of the ruling coalition spent a few hours at Latratu in Khunti district, some 40 kilometres from Ranchi.

    Dubey said JMM supremo Shibu Soren and his sons Hemant Soren and Basant Soren all have represented the Dumka assembly constituency.

    Claiming that it was a case of ‘love jehad’, he said that Rs 28 lakh collected through crowd-funding has been handed over to the victim’s family.

    The BJP leader asserted that it was not a Hindu/Muslim issue, but an attempt by fundamental forces to divide the country on religious lines.

    He claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had recently sought a report from Jharkhand Chief Secretary and DGP about the changing demography in the state during the last 10 years.

    Reacting to the allegations, JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya accused the BJP of politicising the incident and claimed that the saffron party is all out to disturb the social fabric.

    Bhattacharya claimed that a similar incident had occurred during the chief ministership of BJP’s Raghubar Das but the JMM did not cite any other angle as a criminal is a criminal.

    On charges that the Dumka girl was not taken to Delhi, he said that the medical board did not permit that for her.

    The acid attack victim was taken to AIIMS in New Delhi on Wednesday after getting the go-ahead from the medical board, Bhattacharya said and claimed that the BJP was resorting to “blatant lies”.

    Congress MP Geeta Kora and JMM legislator Lobin Hembrom also visited the family.

    Kora demanded the death penalty for the culprit to check the recurrence of such a crime.

    DUMKA: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday sought a report from the Jharkhand director general of police on the death of the teenaged girl who succumbed after being set afire by a man apparently after she spurned his advances.

    The state government’s decision to send another teenager, who is an acid attack victim, to AIIMS in New Delhi for better treatment sparked a war of words between the ruling and opposition camps of the state with the BJP wondering why the Dumka girl did not get the same facility.

    A two-member NCW team visited the family members of the deceased in Dumka.

    “We have sought a report from the DGP. We came here to take a first-hand report of the incident,” NCW member Shalini Singh told reporters.

    A team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is also scheduled to visit Dumka on September 4, officials said.

    Though the police had initially claimed that the deceased was an adult, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Dumka district later said that the class 12 student who died days after being set on fire was a minor.

    The main accused, identified as Shahrukh, on August 23 allegedly poured petrol on the girl from outside the window of her room when she was sleeping and set her on fire.

    The teenager succumbed to her injuries on August 28.

    Shahrukh was arrested.

    Leaders of the BJP and opposition BJP, and the Congress and the JMM, on behalf of the ruling coalition, also visited her family.

    BJP leaders – Godda MP Nishikant Dubey, North-east Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari and former Delhi legislator Kapil Mishra – met the family members of the victim during the day and alleged that ‘severe negligence’ and ‘appeasement politics of the ruling dispensation led to her death.

    They raised questions about why she was not taken to Delhi by air ambulance like the acid attack victim and why no member of Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s family visited her family.

    “The CM and others had time to enjoy picnic and party at dams and resorts. But not a member of the Soren family visited the victim,” Dubey said.

    Amid a political crisis triggered by an EC ruling on Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s continuance as an MLA, MLAs of the ruling coalition spent a few hours at Latratu in Khunti district, some 40 kilometres from Ranchi.

    Dubey said JMM supremo Shibu Soren and his sons Hemant Soren and Basant Soren all have represented the Dumka assembly constituency.

    Claiming that it was a case of ‘love jehad’, he said that Rs 28 lakh collected through crowd-funding has been handed over to the victim’s family.

    The BJP leader asserted that it was not a Hindu/Muslim issue, but an attempt by fundamental forces to divide the country on religious lines.

    He claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had recently sought a report from Jharkhand Chief Secretary and DGP about the changing demography in the state during the last 10 years.

    Reacting to the allegations, JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya accused the BJP of politicising the incident and claimed that the saffron party is all out to disturb the social fabric.

    Bhattacharya claimed that a similar incident had occurred during the chief ministership of BJP’s Raghubar Das but the JMM did not cite any other angle as a criminal is a criminal.

    On charges that the Dumka girl was not taken to Delhi, he said that the medical board did not permit that for her.

    The acid attack victim was taken to AIIMS in New Delhi on Wednesday after getting the go-ahead from the medical board, Bhattacharya said and claimed that the BJP was resorting to “blatant lies”.

    Congress MP Geeta Kora and JMM legislator Lobin Hembrom also visited the family.

    Kora demanded the death penalty for the culprit to check the recurrence of such a crime.

  • Woman’s killing: Jharkhand government provides compensation; NCW seeks report

    By PTI

    RANCHI/DUMKA: The Jharkhand government on Monday handed over a compensation of Rs 9 lakh to the next of kin of a teenager, who was set on fire by a man in Jharkhand’s Dumka district recently, an official said.

    The Class 12 student succumbed to her burn injuries at a government hospital here on Sunday.

    The National Commission for Women during the day sought an action taken report from the police within seven days.

    Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed the Dumka district administration to extend an immediate relief of Rs 10 lakh to the bereaved family.

    Dumka deputy commissioner (DC) Ravi Shankar Shukla told PTI, “On the direction of the CM, the relief money has been provided to the family of the deceased. The family was given a cheque of Rs 9 lakh on Monday”.

    An amount of Rs 1 lakh had already been provided to the family when the woman was being shifted from Dumka to Rajendra Institute of Medical Science, he said.

    Governor Ramesh Bais announced an immediate grant of Rs 2 lakh to the family of the victim from his discretionary grant, an official release said.

    Bais also directed the DGP to probe the role of the local police in the incident and said the trial of the accused should be held in a fast track court, the release said.

    The chief minister said the case will be taken up by a fast-track court for speedy disposal.

    “The Director General of Police has been directed to submit an early report on the progress of the investigation, which should be conducted by ADG rank officer,” the CM said in a Twitter post.

    The NCW on Monday said it has written to the Jharkhand Police chief, calling for a fair investigation into the death of a woman who was set ablaze by a man for not reciprocating his overtures.

    Another person, who allegedly had supplied petrol to the main accused, has also been arrested, Dumka Superintendent of Police Amber Lakra told PTI.

    The second accused has been identified as Chotu Khan alias Naeem, he said.

    Speaking to media persons at the state secretariat, Soren termed the Dumka incident as “heart-wrenching”.

    “Our efforts will be to ensure stringent punishment for the culprit at the earliest. The provision of punishment for such cases should be made stricter,” the CM said.

    Congress legislator and Health minister Banna Gupta said, “It is a very sensitive issue. There should not be politics over this. Speedy trial of the case will be ensured.”

    The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) accused the BJP leaders of trying to do “communal politics” over the incident and said the state government also wants stringent punishment for the culprit.

    JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “Dumka incident is condemnable. The BJP should refrain from doing communal politics over it. The government also wants trial of the accused in a fast track court.”

    Saffron party leaders, including former Jharkhand chief ministers Raghubar Das and Babulal Marandi, demanded that the accused be tried in a fast track court and a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a job should be extended to the next of kin of the woman.

    The incident happened in Dumka town on August 23 when the accused, identified as Shahrukh, allegedly poured petrol on the woman from outside the window of her room when she was sleeping and set her on fire, the police said.

    The deceased had been first admitted to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka in critical condition with 90 per cent burns and later referred to RIMS.

    The accused in the case has already been arrested.

    The woman’s body was cremated amid tight security in Dumka on the banks of the Mayurakshi river on Monday, police said.

    The Dumka deputy commissioner, superintendent of police Ambar Lakra and BJP Dumka MP Sunil Soren were present at the funeral.

    In protest against the incident, Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal had given a call for a bandh in Dumka on Monday.

    All shops, business establishments, schools, and colleges remained closed and the movement of long-distance buses was also affected.

    Protests erupted against the incident with right-wing organisations staging demonstrations in Ranchi and Dumka.

    In Ranchi, the activists gathered at Albert Ekka Chowk and raised slogans against the state government.

    The protestors were seen holding placards seeking justice for the woman.

    Heavy security has been deployed at all prominent places of Dumka town to avoid any untoward incident.

    The administration had clamped prohibitory order in the Dumka sub-division on Sunday.

    Jharkhand’s director general of police has sent additional director general of police (headquarter) Murari Lal Meena and inspector general of Crime Investigation Department (CID) Asim Virant Minz to Dumka for review of the investigation, a police statement said.

    Meanwhile, the father of the victim has demanded capital punishment for the culprit.

    RANCHI/DUMKA: The Jharkhand government on Monday handed over a compensation of Rs 9 lakh to the next of kin of a teenager, who was set on fire by a man in Jharkhand’s Dumka district recently, an official said.

    The Class 12 student succumbed to her burn injuries at a government hospital here on Sunday.

    The National Commission for Women during the day sought an action taken report from the police within seven days.

    Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed the Dumka district administration to extend an immediate relief of Rs 10 lakh to the bereaved family.

    Dumka deputy commissioner (DC) Ravi Shankar Shukla told PTI, “On the direction of the CM, the relief money has been provided to the family of the deceased. The family was given a cheque of Rs 9 lakh on Monday”.

    An amount of Rs 1 lakh had already been provided to the family when the woman was being shifted from Dumka to Rajendra Institute of Medical Science, he said.

    Governor Ramesh Bais announced an immediate grant of Rs 2 lakh to the family of the victim from his discretionary grant, an official release said.

    Bais also directed the DGP to probe the role of the local police in the incident and said the trial of the accused should be held in a fast track court, the release said.

    The chief minister said the case will be taken up by a fast-track court for speedy disposal.

    “The Director General of Police has been directed to submit an early report on the progress of the investigation, which should be conducted by ADG rank officer,” the CM said in a Twitter post.

    The NCW on Monday said it has written to the Jharkhand Police chief, calling for a fair investigation into the death of a woman who was set ablaze by a man for not reciprocating his overtures.

    Another person, who allegedly had supplied petrol to the main accused, has also been arrested, Dumka Superintendent of Police Amber Lakra told PTI.

    The second accused has been identified as Chotu Khan alias Naeem, he said.

    Speaking to media persons at the state secretariat, Soren termed the Dumka incident as “heart-wrenching”.

    “Our efforts will be to ensure stringent punishment for the culprit at the earliest. The provision of punishment for such cases should be made stricter,” the CM said.

    Congress legislator and Health minister Banna Gupta said, “It is a very sensitive issue. There should not be politics over this. Speedy trial of the case will be ensured.”

    The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) accused the BJP leaders of trying to do “communal politics” over the incident and said the state government also wants stringent punishment for the culprit.

    JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “Dumka incident is condemnable. The BJP should refrain from doing communal politics over it. The government also wants trial of the accused in a fast track court.”

    Saffron party leaders, including former Jharkhand chief ministers Raghubar Das and Babulal Marandi, demanded that the accused be tried in a fast track court and a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a job should be extended to the next of kin of the woman.

    The incident happened in Dumka town on August 23 when the accused, identified as Shahrukh, allegedly poured petrol on the woman from outside the window of her room when she was sleeping and set her on fire, the police said.

    The deceased had been first admitted to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka in critical condition with 90 per cent burns and later referred to RIMS.

    The accused in the case has already been arrested.

    The woman’s body was cremated amid tight security in Dumka on the banks of the Mayurakshi river on Monday, police said.

    The Dumka deputy commissioner, superintendent of police Ambar Lakra and BJP Dumka MP Sunil Soren were present at the funeral.

    In protest against the incident, Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal had given a call for a bandh in Dumka on Monday.

    All shops, business establishments, schools, and colleges remained closed and the movement of long-distance buses was also affected.

    Protests erupted against the incident with right-wing organisations staging demonstrations in Ranchi and Dumka.

    In Ranchi, the activists gathered at Albert Ekka Chowk and raised slogans against the state government.

    The protestors were seen holding placards seeking justice for the woman.

    Heavy security has been deployed at all prominent places of Dumka town to avoid any untoward incident.

    The administration had clamped prohibitory order in the Dumka sub-division on Sunday.

    Jharkhand’s director general of police has sent additional director general of police (headquarter) Murari Lal Meena and inspector general of Crime Investigation Department (CID) Asim Virant Minz to Dumka for review of the investigation, a police statement said.

    Meanwhile, the father of the victim has demanded capital punishment for the culprit.

  • National Commission for Women to bring out SOP on rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked girls

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: As each state has its own rules and laws on rescue and rehabilitation of a trafficked women, the National Commission for Women (NCW) plans to come out with a standard operating procedure (SOP) for Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) to stop human trafficking in the country.

    The SOP will guide not only the police, women welfare agencies, but NGOs too in prevention, rescue and their rehabilitation also. In this regard, the NCW will be holding various workshops with stakeholders, including with different state police, to bring out a SOP which could be implemented throughout the country.

    The AHTUs, which was launched in 2007 by drawing personnel from the police and other related departments, with the funding by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, is an integrated task force. Speaking at a seminar on anti-human trafficking awareness, NCW Chairperson, Rekha Sharma said that their “focus is on prevention of trafficking” of girls and women.

    She said that NCW has set up its own Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) with the aim to improve effectiveness in tackling cases of human trafficking, raising awareness among women and girls, capacity building and training of Anti-Trafficking Units and to increase responsiveness of law enforcement agencies.

    Sharma said they will seek help from all stakeholders to come out with a SOP, which will become a guiding principle in rescue and rehabilitation of women. According to government data, 696 AHTUs have been established in various states and union territories in the country till 2020.

    National Resource Centre of Human Trafficking, Raksha Shakti University, Ahmedabad advisor and expert resource faculty Dr. PM Nair said that there should be a single window for grievance redressals.

    He stressed the need for a joint training of not only police, judiciary, prosecution department, but NGOs and other welfare agencies, including District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) also to create a synergy between them.

    Nair said that Anti-Human Trafficking Cell should be set-up in colleges as there is a need for a youth movement against human trafficking. He said these clubs – opened in many colleges in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu – will not only help in prevention, but will also address demand.

    The former police officer, who is an international expert on human trafficking, said that the constitution of AHT Club in a colleges will create awareness among the youth, and will empower adolescents to understand exploitation of all kinds, including online.

    If men stop ‘demand’, there will be no trafficking for sexual exploitation, he added.

  • NCW seeks explanation from Rajasthan Police on delay in filing FIR against Congress MLA

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday sought an explanation from the Rajasthan Police on the “delay” in registering an FIR against Congress MLA Ved Prakash Solanki for posting pictures of the mother and children of a rape victim on social media without the family’s consent.

    The commission also directed the police to submit a progress report in the matter within seven days.

    The NCW, which took up the matter against Solanki suo motu, conducted a hearing on Wednesday.

    The hearing was chaired by NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma and Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar Beniwal appeared in it on behalf of the Director General of Police (DGP).

    “The commission sought an explanation on the delay and further directed police that the progress report must be apprised in seven days. The commission has also directed that the further case updates be apprised weekly,” the NCW said in a statement.

    The NCW had taken cognizance of the matter on May 3 and directed the Rajasthan DGP to immediately file an FIR against the MLA and to take fair action against him without any influence.

    The commission said it also issued a notice to the DGP on May 13 for a hearing in the matter.

    The police registered the FIR only on May 17, after the commission’s notice for hearing.

    Solanki had posted on social media pictures of the family members of the woman who was gang-raped and killed in Dausa in Rajasthan.

  • Notice to UP police over woman’s death

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Taking cognisance of a woman found hanging from the wall of a private hospital in Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Sunday asked the state police to arrest the accused persons immediately. The family of the deceased has alleged that she was raped and then murdered.

    NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma has written to Uttar Pradesh DGP to file an FIR against the accused persons immediately. The panel has sought the arrest of all the accused and a copy of the postmortem report. “Action taken must be apprised within seven days,” it said.

    The body of a woman, said to be a nurse, was found hanging from the wall of a private hospital, which opened last week, in Unnao on Saturday. Police have named three persons, including the owner of the hospital, as accused. Police, however, said rape was not confirmed during the autopsy. 

  • NCW writes to Home Minister Amit Shah on alleged atrocities against women in West Bengal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Women has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking his intervention in the alleged brutalities and violence committed against women in West Bengal.

    The NCW said it has received a joint memorandum from the All India Democratic Women’s Association, National Federation of Indian Women and All India Progressive Women’s Association claiming that women in West Bengal are facing an extremely insecure atmosphere and activists of the ruling TMC have unleashed a reign of terror.

    The memorandum, which has a district-wise list of incidents of atrocities against women, sought immediate steps to end the alleged brutalities and violence against them, the NCW said.

    It has also been alleged that the state administration and police are either silent spectators or in connivance with the perpetrators.

    In some incidents, male police personnel have misbehaved and molested women, according to the memorandum.

    The women’s associations have requested the NCW to intervene in the matter.

    The Commission said it is extremely concerned with the increasing cases of violence and brutalities against women in the state.

    “Chairperson Rekha Sharma has written to the home minister seeking intervention in the matter to ensure the safety and security of the women in the state. A copy of the letter has also been sent to the chief secretary and director general of police, West Bengal,” the NCW said in a statement.