Annual Report 2013-14 Hindu’ dated 17 April 2013. According to the news report, a 16 year old gang rape victim was allegedly beaten up by a lady constable at the behest of Sub Inspector of Police Station Afzalgarh, District Bijnour, Uttar Pradesh. It is reported that the victim had gone to the police station on 12 April 2013 alongwith her parents for lodging a complaint against two youths who had gang raped her on 11 April 2013. The report also discloses that the victim and her parents had been trying to get the complaint registered since 12 April 2013 but to no avail. Instead of registering the FIR, the rape victim herself was allegedly assaulted by the lady constable on the directions of the Sub Inspector. 4.168 While issuing notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, calling for a report, the Commission made the following observation: “The Commission is appalled at the utter insensitivity on the part of police officials. Barely a week ago, another minor rape victim was detained in a lock up in the State. These kinds of incidents by the very people who are vested with the responsibility and duty to protect the life and property of the citizens have to be put down with a heavy hand.” 4.169 In response, reports received from authorities revealed that the victim had gone to the agricultural field on 11 April 2013 to answer the call of nature. Two men, Anees and Rashid, subjected her to sexual assault and gang raped her, leaving her injured. When the victim did not return home, her father approached Police Station Afzalgarh on 12 April 2013. The victim, however, regained consciousness on 12 April 2013 and was thereafter located by her uncle. The victim and her family members were brought to the police station by SubInspector Raj Singh the same day. 4.170 The local police, instead of initiating any legal action, mounted pressure on the victim and her family members to enter into a compromise. During this process, even the victim was physically assaulted by woman Constable Sukhraj Kaur and sent back home. The victim and her family members again visited the police station on 13 April 2013 but the case was not registered. On 15 April 2013, the victim’s father visited Additional Superintendent of Police, Rural, Bijnore and thereafter the criminal case was registered on the complaint of her mother, vide Crime No.111/2013 for the offences punishable u/s 376D, 506 IPC at Police Station Afzalgarh on 15 April 2013 against both the named accused persons. 4.171 It was further stated that another criminal case vide Crime No.113/2013 for the offence punishable u/s 166A IPC was also registered against Ramjilal, Station House Officer, Police Station Afzalgarh; SubInspector Raj Singh and Lady Constable Sukhraj Kaur on 16 April 2013 for delay in registration of the case. All the three police personnel were placed under suspension and departmental action was also initiated against them. During the course of investigation, Section 323, 342 IPC were also added. It was further stated that in Case Crime No.113/2013, chargesheet for the offences punishable u/s 166A, 323, 342 IPC had been submitted against all the three police personnel on 26 May 2013. NHRC | 57