NHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Pregnant Woman’s Assault and Paraded Naked in Rajasthan

The NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report concerning an incident in Pratapgarh district, Rajasthan, on August 31, 2023, in which a pregnant woman was allegedly assaulted and paraded naked by her own family members. The incident was widely circulated on social media through a viral video.

The Commission has issued a notice to the Rajasthan Government in connection with the reported incident. The NHRC has noted that if the contents of the media report are accurate, they raise grave concerns about the violation of the victim’s human rights. As a result, it has called upon the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police in Rajasthan to provide a comprehensive report on the matter within a period of four weeks.

The report should encompass details regarding actions taken against the perpetrators and the current status of the ongoing investigation, which was initiated following the registration of an FIR. Additionally, the Commission has expressed interest in the health condition of the victim and any compensation that may have been provided to her by the authorities.

According to the media report published on September 2, 2023, the woman had accompanied a man to a neighboring village. Subsequently, her family members retrieved her and subjected her to deplorable treatment. The victim reportedly pleaded for assistance, but instead of coming to her aid, individuals opted to record videos of the incident.