NHRC orders Odisha govt to compensate minor girl molested by jawan

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 29:

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Odisha government to pay Rs 50,000 as monetary compensation to a 13-year-old tribal girl who was sexually assaulted by a public servant and submit compliance within six weeks.

Acting on a complaint filed by human rights activist and High Court advocate Prabir Kumar Das, the NHRC invoking Section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act-1993 directed the Odisha chief secretary to pay a damage of Rs 50,000 to the minor girl from Jharigan area of Nabarangpur district, who was sexually assaulted by an India Reserve Battalion (IRB) jawan in February 2011.

The girl’s father in his complaint with the Jharigan police station had alleged that his daughter was raped by the jawan on the evening of February 27, 2011.

Jharigan police, after registering a case under Section 376 (rape) of IPC, converted the case to outraging of modesty (section 354 of IPC) when the girl in her statement before the magistrate maintained she was not raped but molested by the jawan.

The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) of Nabarangpur rejected the victim’s application for the award of any monetary compensation as it was not a case of rape and had instead suggested the victim to appeal before the State Legal Services Authority.

Setting aside the observation of the DLSA and based on application made by Das, NHRC recommended to Odisha government to pay the damage amount to the girl within six weeks.

Das said apex rights body’s order copy was received on Thursday.

Also Read

Comments are closed.