The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has issued notice to Superintendent of Police, Sonipat asking him to submit a report within two weeks on the incident of death of a dalit boy Govind under suspicious circumstances in Gohana in the district.
Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports, the Commission has issued the notice to the SP, Sonipat on Monday.
The order stated, “It has been reported that a dalit boy named Govind of Devi Nagar, Gohana in district Sonipat died under suspicious circumstance during police action for which a Special Investigation Team has been constituted. It has further been reported that as per the statement of the elder brother of deceased, the constitution of the SIT is not acceptable to the family.”
“In view of the allegations levelled, Superintendent of Police, Sonipat is directed through Director of Investigation to submit a detailed report within two weeks,” stated the order issued on Monday.
The state Police had a day before stated that SIT constituted by the Police Department is conducting thorough investigation into the Gohana incident and a case was registered on the basis of a written statement by the family of the victim Govind, which would be verified during the investigation.
The State Police had earlier stated that 15 years old Govind had committed suicide. Two ASIs of Haryana Police have been booked on murder charges following
allegations by the family
that the boy died in police
custody.
Govind was found hanging hours after he was picked up by the police for questioning over allegations of pigeon theft.
A day before, the Congress had demanded CBI probe into Govind’s death.
The opposition in Haryana has also accused the state’s BJP government of failing to protect dalits after recent incidents.
Notably, as many as 403 cases have so far been registered under this Act in 2015 in the state. Similarly, 501 such cases were registered in 2013 and 464 cases were registered in 2014.
less than two weeks ago, a two-year-old boy and his 9-month-old sister were burnt alive after their home in Faridabad was allegedly set on fire by upper caste men over a dispute.
In another incident, a 40-year-old dalit man who was witness to the alleged murder of his nephew was found hanging on Friday last at his home in Hisar district of the State.
Badan Singh, who also belonged to a dalit family, had alleged harassment by the police because he was leading protests against them for not taking action in the alleged killing of his nephew Gurbachan Singh. Two policemen have been suspended in the case.