The Tribune Impact: Rights panel takes suo motu notice of chained woman, son in Muktsar village

Acting on a report titled “Man, mother found chained at their house” published in these columns of The Tribune today, the Punjab State & Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission has taken a suo motu cognisance of the incident. Nirmal Singh (45) and his elderly mother Jaswinder Kaur were found shackled at their residence at Madhir village in the Gidderbaha Assembly segment here.

The Commission, comprising Chairperson Justice Sant Parkash and Member Justice Gurbir Singh, has sought reports from the Deputy Commissioner, Senior Superintendent of Police and Civil Surgeon, Muktsar, regarding the circumstances of the incident and the health condition of the victims.

The reports have been sought a week before the next date of hearing on November 24.

According to the news report, the victims were rescued by local residents after allegedly being restrained by family members. Some villagers alleged that inhuman treatment was meted out to them at the behest of a commission agent who had lent money to Nirmal. But, the commission agent stated that Nirmal Singh’s wife and relatives restrained him with a chain as he used to consume alcohol and quarrel with his wife and children, and his mother supported him.

The commission has directed that copies of its order be sent to the concerned district authorities for compliance and to the Special DGP, Human Rights, Punjab, for information.

 Meanwhile, Jasvir Singh, SHO of Kotbhai police station, had on Thursday said, “It has come to light that Nirmal Singh, under the influence of liquor, used to thrash his wife. He and his mother were tied with chains by his wife and some relatives. We called them to the police station, and they have now agreed to live peacefully together and have not lodged any complaint against anyone.”