Belagavi Woman Assault Case: Human Rights Panel Seeks Action Report From Karnataka Govt, DGP

On December 11, according to the police, the victim's son eloped with a woman who was about to get engaged to another man. 

Days after National Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance of Belagavi woman assault case, the Commission issued a notice to Karnataka government and the state police chief seeking a comprehensive report on Friday. A 42-year-old woman was reportedly stripped, paraded naked and assaulted by a group of people since her son eloped with a woman from another community. 

In a statement, NHRC said, the purported act, as reported, seems to have a "stereotyped patriarchal approach", which is a clear demonstration of the violation of the right to life and dignity of the victim."

The Commission said that if the incidents are found to be true then it raises a serious violation of the human rights of the victim woman. It is the duty of the state to safeguard vulnerable sections of society, especially women, children and elderly persons, it said, as per a report on PTI.

As a result, officials stated that the Commission sent notifications to the chief secretary and director general of police in Karnataka, requesting a comprehensive report within a four-week timeframe.

"It should include the status of the registration of FIR, progress in investigation, arrest, if any, compensation under the Victim Compensation Scheme, if paid, and the steps taken or to be taken to prevent such incidents in the state. Considering the gravity of the matter, the Commission has also asked its DIG, Investigation to constitute a team to conduct an on-spot fact-finding inquiry at the earliest and submit a report, within two weeks," it said.

On December 11, according to the police, the victim's son eloped with a woman who was about to get engaged to another man. 

On December 12, NHRC took cognisance of media report that "a 42-year-old woman was stripped, paraded naked, tied to an electric pole and assaulted" in Belagavi district.

Taking to X, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "In @INCIndia there is no ‘nyay’ for the SCs and STs. The recent incident in Belgavi, Karnataka falls in the same category as those repeated atrocities against the Dalits seen till recently in Congress-ruled Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. For Congress the downtrodden are just a votebank."

The BJP members staged a protest on Saturday. BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda said, "We are protesting against the law and order situation in Karnataka. They (state government) have totally failed..."

All Culprits Arrested, Says DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Friday said all the culprits in connection with crime have been arrested and no one will be spared at any cost. 

Deputy CM said that their government swung into action after learning about the incident. 

"We have arrested all the culprits. The law will take its course and there's no question of shielding or protecting anyone. The Congress is committed to ensuring women's safety across the country," he said, as per a report on ANI.