The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought response from the child rights activist linkan Subuddhi who was brutally beaten down in Noida for opposing child marriage in 2013.
The NHRC earlier issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh police and started an investigation of the case following a petition filed in this regard by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
lincon Subuddhi, an IT professional-turned social worker, was admitted to a hospital after the attack on September 19, 2013. After lincon reached the house of the 15-year-old Sabha (named changed) getting a call for help, she was assaulted.
Sabha is a student of Class VIII in a charitable school in Noida. lincon has been teaching the girl for the past years. lincon had reportedly helped her a year ago in a similar issue and managed to ward off the marriage.
licon from Noida was battered when she tried to stop a woman from forcibly marrying off her daughter to a man 10 years older than her. The victim, also a volunteer with an NGO Aid India, is admitted in the ICU of a private hospital with serious injuries. The police said the techie was attacked with a knife and bricks by the prospective groom, who was egged on by the minor’s mother.
The child marriage that was scheduled to be held and subsequent brutal attack on the activist amounts to serious violation of human rights. All these happened due to the failure of the Government officials in acting over the issue in time, Tripathy alleged.
He requested the NHRC to investigate the case on a war footing and ensure free appropriate medical care to linkan.
Pursuant to further directions of the commission, Senior Superintendent of Police, GautamBudh Nagar in his report stated that in the alleged incident two accused persons had assaulted on the victim lincon when she was resisting the child marriage. One accused was arrested on September 20 and another accused is absconding. Charge sheet against both accused has been filed in the court. Police protection was given to the victim during her stay in Noida.
Since the NHRC took long time to decide such a serious case, Tripathy in his further communication to the Commission mentioned the gravity of the offence and the victim left Noida for good and has not been compensated yet by the State even if she suffered immensely.
He requested the apex rights panel to take up the case seriously at the earliest. He also met the concerned officials of the NHRC and apprised the case.