Expressing serious displeasure over the extremely lethargic attitude of the State administration to deal with sexual assault case of a minor girl in June 2016, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Superintendent of Police, Baleswar, for personal appearance before the Commission on May 7. The non-submission of the report would attract an offence U/s 175 / 176 of IPC and the Commission would be constrained to initiate criminal proceedings U/s 175 / 176 IPC, as well as under Rule 10 and 12 of Order XVI of Civil Procedure Code for willful omission to produce documents and to give information, the NHRC in its direction recently stated. Acting on a petition filed by activist-lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, the apex human rights panel also asked the SP to pursue the application before the District Legal Service Authority, Baleswar for compensation under victim compensation scheme as it is surprising that application has been moved three years back but till date compensation has not been disbursed. Tripathy alleged that on 28.06.2016, while an 11-year-old girl was playing by the roadside, two unknown persons came on a motorcycle and kidnapped her. At about 8.15 PM the victim was rescued. Family members ascertained that she was sexually assaulted by the accused forcibly, at an unidentified place. The incident occurred under Soro police limits. Proper medical treatment could not be provided to the victim. No compensation and rehabilitation with psycho-social counselling has been done for the victim, he said and added that it is a classic case of failure of police and officials from the Women and Child Development.
