Biswajeet Banerjee | The News Minute | July 20, 2014 |10:02 AM IST
On the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission, the government of Uttar Pradesh government has provided financial assistance to a minor girl who was raped by a constable almost two years back in Gonda.
The Commission in a notice said that a public servant has violated a victim’s human rights for which the state was liable. “The state cannot shirk its duty. Any government servant who violates human rights of a citizen needs to be punished and the state should ensure the guilty is punished and the victim suitably compensated,” the commission said.
Uttar Pradesh Government had paid a compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the rape survivor. The state had initially denied financial assistance, responding to the Commission's notice, the state government had said that there was no provision in the police department to provide financial assistance to the victim.
The state government further said that a criminal case under Section 376 IPC was filed against the accused constable and that he was arrested and sent to jail.
The incident happened on September 5, 2012, in Janaki Nagar, under police station Kotwali Nagar in Gonda district. The girl had gone to drop her younger brother to school. While coming back home, she was waylaid by the Constable who dragged her to a bush and physically assaulted her.
But later, the money was granted.
“This shows the human face of Akhilesh Yadav Government. The government honoured Commission’s directive and paid the compensation as directed by it,” Samajwadi Party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhry said.
Chaudhry, a minister in Akhilesh yadav Government said that the state has paid an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the family members of the widow who was brutally gang raped and killed in Mohanlalganj on Thursday.
“The Government has also agreed to bear the cost of education of two children of the widow aged 6 and 11,” Chaudry said.