Dalit killing: NHRC issues a notice to Gujarat government, seeks report

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday issued a notice to the Gujarat government in connection with Sunday’s killing of a Dalit rag-picker in Rajkot. NHRC said in an official communication that it had taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that a 40-year-old Dalit rag-picker was beaten to death in Rajkot district on Sunday, allegedly over the issue of collecting scraps in the area.

The victim, Mukesh Vaniya, was beaten up mercilessly in industrial premises on Shapar-Veraval road on Sunday under the suspicion of being a thief. A video of the flogging incident showed two persons taking turns to beat Vaniya with a stick, who was tied to the factory gate, and a third person holding him by a rope. Injuries caused by the brutal thrashing led to Vaniya’s death. Four persons were arrested by Rajkot Police after an offence of murder and other charges under IPC and Prevention of Atrocities Act in the wake of the incident.

“The Commission has observed that contents of the news report, if true, raise the serious issue of violation of human rights of the victims. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary to Government for Gujarat calling for a report in the matter within four weeks along with measures taken for relief to the affected families,” NHRC said in a release.

Vaniya, a native of Parnala village of Surendranagar district, was picking rags around the factory along with his wife Champa and another woman when they were beaten up following an altercation. The women were allowed to leave while Vaniya was held back in the factory. The victim was found on the ground when the women returned with some other persons. He was taken to hospital where he was declared brought dead.

On Monday, the state government announced compensation of Rs 8.25 lakh for Vaniya’s family, of which, a cheque of Rs 4.12 lakh was handed over to his wife the same day.

Reacting to the NHRC notice, state’s social justice and empowerment minister Ishwar Parmar said that the government will submit a detailed report to the Commission within a week.

PANEL’S RELEASE

“The Commission has observed that contents of the news report, if true, raise the serious issue of violation of human rights of the victims. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary to Government for Gujarat calling for a report in the matter within four weeks along with measures taken for relief to the affected families.”