Harassment Case: SC commission seeks action-taken report

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, October 12

Taking a serious view of the brutal incident in which the sarpanch and villagers of the border village of Assal Uttar assaulted a Scheduled Caste family and molested its woman member over buying a piece of land in the village to construct a house, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman Vijay Sampla on Monday sent a notice to the local district administration asking the officials to submit the action-taken report till October 22.

However, Deputy Commissioner Kulwant Singh could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

The Commission said as per the information received from the complainant, Ninder Singh, a resident of Assal Uttar village, at least 28 persons, eight of whom have been identified, had assaulted his family. In his complaint to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, he had stated that on January 12 this year, the attackers trespassed into their house to take its possession forcibly.

He alleged that the accused attacked them with swords and fired gunshots in the house and tore the clothes of his wife and molested her. Besides, the sarpanch of the village used casteist remarks against the family while others threatened to kill them over purchasing the land, alleged Ninder Singh.

He alleged that Valtoha police and other higher officials failed to ensure justice to them.

The NCSC had issued a notice to the Divisional Commissioner (Jalandhar Division), the Inspector-General of Police (Ferozepur Range), the Deputy Commissioner (Tarn Taran) and the Senior Superintendent of Police (Tarn Taran) to investigate the matter and submit an immediate report through post or email, based on the facts and information on the action taken on the issue.

Sampla cautioned the officers that if action taken report was not received within the stipulated time, then the Commission might exercise the powers of the civil court conferred on it under Article 338 of the Constitution of India and issue a summon for personal appearance before the commission in Delhi.

It was a unique incident in itself in which the NCSC had interfered to ensure justice to the aggrieved family.

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