Guwahati: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday directed Assam police to take stern action against police officers and constables involved in stripping and torturing a pregnant woman and her two sisters. The women were picked up by police on September 9 in connection with a case registered against their brother for allegedly abducting a Hindu woman, the media report said.
The National Human Rights Commission of India also on Wednesday served notices to chief secretary and the DGP, Assam calling for a detailed report in the said case.
The NCW, which took suo moto cognisance of the incident, condemned the treatment meted out to the women. The commission has asked Assam director general of police to take up the matter urgently and ensure that the accused officials are given stern punishment, the NCW said in a statement.
It said it is “anguished” by such alleged misconduct on part of the police officials.
The police officials, the NCW said, ill-treated the women not involved in any crime but suspected to know the whereabouts of an alleged criminal.
The role of police officers is to help uphold law and order impartially, and protect people, especially women, it said.
The Assam State Commission for Women has also taken cognisance and its chairperson Sikimiki Talukdar visited the victims and assured of all protection to them. While asking for stern measures against police officers, she said that suspension of the police officers was not the punishment.
Referring the torture marks on the body of three victims, she said that it was simply the inhuman act of police and they need to get stringent punishment to set an example for others too.
Assam DGP Kuladhar Saikia told this newspaper that they had ordered an enquiry by deputy inspector general (DIG) rank officer who has already started the investigation. “We have asked him to submit the report at the earliest. We have also registered a criminal FIR against in-charge of the p[olice outpost Mahendra Sarma and constable Binita Boro,” he said admitting that it came to their notice only after the victims appeared before the media.
It is significant that victims said that they were forced to break their silence when police authorities allegedly did not act for almost 10 days.
