After murder video of Dalit goes viral, human rights commission issues notice to Gujarat govt

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday issued notice to the state government in connection to Sunday's killing of a Dalit rag-picker in Rajkot.

In an official communication, the NHRC said that it had taken suo motu cognizance of media reports about a 40-year-old Dalit rag-picker beaten to death in Rajkot district on Sunday, allegedly over the issue of collecting scraps in the area.

Mukesh Vaniya, the victim, was beaten up mercilessly in an 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 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 cheque of Rs4.12 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 would submit a detailed report to the Commission within a week.

“Four accused have been arrested. Compensation has been paid to the victim's family. The government is closely following the case, and we will apprise NHRC about it in our reply,” Parmar said.