New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission on Monday said it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, and the Director General of Prisons, Madhya Pradesh after taking suo moto cognisance of the alleged gang-rape of a woman in lockup.
The rights panel cited a news report of a 20-year-old woman levelling allegations that she was kept in lock-up for 10 days earlier in May this year and was gang-raped by five police personnel including the Police Station Incharge and SDPO of Mangawan area of Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh.
The woman, as mentioned in the news report, was an accused in a murder case and is presently lodged in judicial custody.
The incident occurred in the month of May and it came to the knowledge of the District Judge after a period of five months. "Even the prison warden did not have the courage to report the matter to the higher authorities," the NHRC said.
The Commission directed that the matter be investigated by a senior police officer, not below the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police, the statement said.
"As alleged by the victim woman, she was subjected to rape between May 9-21 while the police contradicts... woman constable had protested at that time but she was rebuked by her seniors," the statement said, quoting reports.
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The Commission said that it has considered the "vulnerable position" of the victim.
She was in police custody when she was allegedly subjected to utmost cruelty and sexual assault by the police personnel, the rights panel said, adding that even a protest made by a female police official went in vain.
Very serious allegations have been levelled by the victim, the NHRC said.
"Public servants from the law enforcement agencies, who are supposed to safeguard the citizens especially women and the people from the vulnerable classes of society have allegedly committed the heinous crime against a woman in their custody," it said.
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