Member urges SHRC to take cognisance of case

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 15

Amid protests by religious organisations over the Bandipora toddler’s rape, a member of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), Chander Mohan Sharma, on Wednesday asked the chairman of the rights panel to take suo motu cognisance of the incident.

As no one has approached the rights panel, Sharma said the SHRC should take cognisance of the crime without wasting any time.

“The whole society is in a shock after this heinous crime. The SHRC must step in to ensure justice to the victim,” Sharma said, adding, “We have already asked the SHRC chairman to take suo motu cognisance of the incident as only he among the panel members is authorised to do so.” “We have taken a report from the police about the Bandipora incident and hopefully, the panel chairman will take appropriate decision in this regard,” he said.

“Earlier, suo motu cognisance has been taken by the panel in similar cases so, there should be no delay in the case,” he said. Meanwhile, protests erupted in various parts of the Jammu region against the incident on Wednesday. The Anjuman-e-Imamia, a religious organisation which represents Shias of the Jammu province, held a massive protest on Wednesday and demanded justice for the victim. Students from Ladakh studying in Jammu also held a protest on Wednesday evening, demanding justice for the victim and a speedy trial.