Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to two states on reports that a 17-year-old tribal girl from Odisha was trafficked, sold and subjected to repeated sexual assaults for about two years in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
The Commission issued notices to the authorities concerned in Odisha and Uttar Pradesh after taking suo motu cognisance of a media report that the victim and three other girls were trafficked to UP on the pretext of providing jobs.
The girl reportedly managed to escape with the help of a local
advocate and approached the Jhansi police. Although her statement was recorded, no further action was allegedly taken by the police except for providing a train ticket to Odisha. Upon her return, the Odisha Police recorded her statement and an investigation is underway.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise serious issues of violation of human rights. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Director General of Police, Odisha, Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh and the District Magistrate, Dhenkanal, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. It is expected to include the status of investigation and steps taken to provide relief and rehabilitation to the victim.
According to the media report, carried on May 29, the victim was allegedly confined at a house for nearly three months and was repeatedly subjected to sexual assault there. It is further alleged that when the victim became pregnant, she was forced to undergo an abortion without her consent. Thereafter, she was allegedly sold to another person for Rs 50,000 and repeatedly sexually assaulted by several others for nearly two years before managing to escape.