The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) on Thursday took cognizance over the incident of self immolation by minor dalit girl, who was victim of gang rape. The Commission through a letter faxed to the Hoshangabad Inspector general of Police (IG) and Superintendent of Police (SP) asked them to submit detailed report of the case within seven days.
The girl took the extreme step at her residence on Wednesday at Nayagaon village in Itarsi under Hoshangabad district fearing that an accused in the case who came out on bail recently may kill her.
The Commission wished to know from the Hoshangabad IG and SP that when did the accused got bail, did the prosecution presented its side rightly against the accused bail besides knowing that when did the rape incidence took place and when were the accused arrested, when did the chalan was presented in the court and when the accused got bail. The Commission also wish to get aware with the fact that did any report was done at the police station after release of accused on bail. The IG and SP have to answer these questions of the Commission within seven days.
The Commission is of the view that prima facie it appears that the girl attempted to commit suicide as the administration and police failed to provide her adequate security.
Notably, the victim was raped in February this year following which two accused were arrested. The main accused in the case is still lodged in jail but one of his accomplices Anil Yadav was released on bail nearly two months back and since then the victim is gripped with a fear that he may take revenge or might kill her. It appears that in a disturbed state of mind yesterday, she poured kerosene to immolate herself and suffered 40 per cent burn injuries.
Soon after the incidence on Wednesday, Yadav was arrested and booked under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.