The National Human Rights Commission of India on Saturday sent a notice to the Chhattisgarh government over the alleged rape, sexual and physical assault of 16 women by the state’s police personnel.

Observing that the government is ‘vicariously liable’ for the alleged crimes, the commission asked the government to show cause why the NHRC should not recommend interim monetary relief to the tune of Rs 37 lakh for the women. The commission also observed that it is of the view that prima facie, human rights of the victims have been ‘grossly violated’, reports Press Trust of India.

After examining the material available on record, including three FIRs, the NHRC found that found that there are in ‘total 34 victims mentioned in police complaints.’ However, the commission noted that statements of only 15 victims have been recorded by a magistrate, and directed the Chhattisgarh Additional Director General of Police (CID) to get the statements of the other 19 victims recorded before a magistrate.

The NHRC team itself examined several people in the matter, including the security personnel and some of the victims. The team was able to record statements of only 14 of the 34 women mentioned in the FIRs.

‘Almost all victims are tribals’

The NHRC said, ‘Almost all the victims in these incidents, covered under the three FIRs, are tribals,’ noting that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was not invoked in any of the cases. Due to this, the monetary relief under the SC/ST (POA) Act was not paid to the victims. The commission thus directed the Chhattisgarh chief secretary to ensure that monetary relief, if any, under the act is paid to the victims at the earliest.

The NHRC’s statement clarified that the current directions are of an ‘interim nature and a final view will be taken in respect of other victims and also with regard to other issues involved in this matter in due course of time’. A full bench of the commission considered the matter on February 22 last year after allegations emerged that Chhattisgarh state police personnel had sexually harassed and assaulted more than 40 women in five villages and gangraped at least two in the Bijapur district.