The National Commission for Women and National Human Rights Commission on Monday took cognizance of the gangrape of a girl in Bettiah town of West Champaran district and issued notices to Bihar officials.
The rape survivor, who was an inmate of the Muzaffarpur shelter home had been rehabilitated with her family after revelations of the sexual abuse of 34 girls in the home was reported in May 2018. The Supreme Court is monitoring the case.
The survivor had lodged a complaint with the Bettiah town police station that she was gangraped by four of her neighbours in a moving SUV on the Bettiah-Pakhnaha road on the night of September 13.
The survivor was later admitted to the government hospital for treatment and medical examination.
On Monday, the NCW and the NHRC took cognizance of the incident and issued notices to the Bihar Chief Secretary and Director General of Police. A committee of the NCW, headed by its Chairperson Rekha Sharma will travel to Bihar later this week to meet the girl, the DGP and other officials.
“She is already a victim, rather than helping her out, she has to go through this,” said Ms. Sharma. The NHRC has asked for a “detailed report in the matter within four weeks ”.
“Apparently, the girl has become a victim of the State’s apathy,” observed the Commission in its notices.
The Bettiah police said the incident took place when the girl was reportedly on way to her sister-in-law’s house.The four youths allegedly dragged her inside an SUV and sexually assaulted her in the moving vehicle.
“None of the four accused have been arrested yet, though the local police have conducted a massive manhunt,” said a senior police official in Patna.
