SC Commission seeks report on Dalit woman’s assault at Siwan police station
Taking cognisance of an alleged assault on a Dalit woman inside Siwan police station, Haryana State Commission for Scheduled Castes chairperson Ravinder Singh Baliala has directed the ADGP, Karnal Range, to submit a fact-finding report within a week.
During a public hearing at the Mini-Secretariat in Kaithal, Baliala also asked the Director General Health Services to provide the medical report of the victim. The report must be prepared by a special medical board that includes a doctor from PGI Rohtak. He further instructed that provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act be added to the FIR already registered on the woman’s complaint.
The matter came up during the Commission’s hearing into various caste-related grievances. The session began with a complaint from the family of a missing girl, which is reportedly linked to the same case. Several participants then alleged that a Dalit woman was brutally mistreated while in custody at the Siwan police station.
Following this, the chairperson summoned senior district officials, including the doctor at Siwan civil hospital who allegedly refused to treat the woman initially, to appear before the Commission on July 15. The district hospital has also been directed to submit the complete medical treatment records of the victim.
Superintendent of Police Astha Modi informed the Commission that two police personnel were immediately shifted to police lines after the complaint was received. She said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Karnal had been constituted to investigate the matter and action would be taken based on the findings.
Emphasising the seriousness of the incident, Baliala said: “Officers must take complaints from the Scheduled Caste community seriously. Justice must be delivered swiftly and fairly. This Commission was established under the 2018 Act with powers equivalent to the National SC Commission and we will use every one of them to protect the rights and dignity of the marginalised.”
He added that the Commission’s approach ensures impartiality. “Even the accused are given an opportunity to present their side to ensure that no innocent person is wrongfully implicated,” he said.
Baliala appreciated the Kaithal district administration’s cooperation in addressing caste-related issues, stating, “The district’s response to complaints from the Scheduled Caste community has been largely satisfactory.”
During the hearing, the Commission reviewed 11 listed cases and took note of around 15 fresh complaints submitted directly during the session. Directions were issued on the spot to police and administrative officials for immediate follow-up.
Haryana Tribune