NHRC notice to Bihar CS, DGP over inaction in school girl murder

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi:  The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of a communication from Ms Sushma Sahu, Member, National Commission for Women (NCW), requesting Commission’s intervention in the matter of  murder of a class 10 girl student of a government resident school-‘Ambedkar Awasiya Balika Uchh Vidylaya’, Dighi (Majirabad) in Vaishali district of Bihar, whose body was found in a drain near the gate of the hostel on January 8, 2017.

It is stated that the student had complained that one of the teachers of the school was mounting pressure on her for sexual favours. NCW member Sahu observed that police authorities were not taking proper action in the matter even as the family of the victim was being threatened. The NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Bihar, calling for a detailed report in the matter within six weeks including the steps being taken by the state government or proposed to be taken to stop recurrence of such gruesome incidents in future, according to an NHRC release.

The Commission has also observed that the contents of the complaint raise serious issue of violation of Right to Life and Dignity of the girl students studying in the school and residing in the hostel. Being guardian of the students, the school authorities are bound to provide safety and security to the students. Such incidents are indicative of not only negligent attitude of the authorities but require immediate action against responsible teachers/ staff of the school.

According to the complaint by the Member of the NCW, she had visited the school as well as the residence of the victim girl in Muzaffarpur district. She found that the school was in a very bad condition. Heaps of garbage were piled up inside the school premises. It is cleaned only by the students as there is no other arrangement.  The place where the food is prepared for the students is also full of filth. There is only one handpump in the school for 345 girl students.

The students complained that the premises is not safe. The wild animals and anti-social elements often enter inside the school. It is mentioned in the complaint that some resourceful persons of the locality, in connivance with the police and administration, are trying to hush up the case and mounting pressure on the victim’s family by threatening them.