The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India took suo moto cognizance on Wednesday of human rights violations that took place in the Sandeshkhali district of West Bengal. Suo moto cognizance is the right of the NHRC to accept cases on their own, without them moving through the traditional legal processes like a complaint or petition to the NHRC. The violations include allegations of harassment and sexual assault of “innocent and impoverished women.”
The NHRC said the violations caused the safety and security of the women, children and elderly in the area to be “jeopardized.” Many have subsequently left their homes “due to torture and sexual abuse that are looming large upon them.” Reports of these occurrences spurred the NHRC to “exercise its jurisdiction under Section 12 (a) of the [Protection of Human Rights] Act, 1993.” Under this act, the NHRC has a “duty to preserve, protect and promote human rights, and take suo motu cognizance of the reported incidents of violence.”
As a result of these human rights violations, the NHRC issued notices to the Chief Secretary as well as the Director General of Police of West Bengal, seeking detailed reports of the violent acts and the subsequent actions taken by the authorities. Further, the NHRC has also sought information with regard to compensation to victims and ameliorative measures that authorities are supposed to undertake to rebuild confidence in the local community. This information is expected to be presented within four weeks.
Following the violence in this area, the village of Sandeshkhali has roiled with protests led by local women who have been demanding the arrest of Shahjahan Sheikh, a Trinamool Congress Party’s district convenor who has been accused of coercive land grabbing and sexual harassment by village residents. Since the start of these protests, Sheikh has absconded from the authorities after his aides allegedly attacked a team of Enforcement Directorate officers.
Relatedly, the Supreme Court of India is said to hear a public interest litigation petition on Monday seeking a court-monitored investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the matters of violence and sexual harassment that took place in Sandeshkhali.
