Annual Report 1999-2000 station, Dibai, and met the Sub-Inspector and later the Fire Station Officer, both of whom, instead of taking cognizance of the case, abused the girl, passed derogatory remarks and also threatened them with implication in false cases. Upon returning home, ABC committed suicide by setting herself on fire and later succumbed to her bum injuries at 9 a.m. on 15 August 1998. As the complaint related to a grave violation of human rights of a Dalit girl, the Commission took cognizance of this matter on a priority basis, and issued notice to the SSP, Bulandshar, calling for a report. The report dated 6 October 1998, received from the SSP, Bulandshar, stated that the complainant had denied having sent the complaint in question to the Commission, but confirmed the averments and allegations made in the complaint with regard to the suicide by ABC after she was raped by the two firemen. It was also reported that, upon a complaint of the grandfather of the victim, a case FIR No. 221/98 under Section 363/366/376/306, IPC, and under Secdon 3(1)/12 of the SC/ST Act had been registered, and efforts were on to arrest the accused persons. Upon considering the report, the Commission thought it expedient to get the matter inquired into by its own investigation division. Pursuant to this decision, an Inspector from the investigation division made an on-the-spot enquiry and submitted a report. According to the report, ABC had developed illicit relations with the two firemen. On the night of 14 August 1998, she had been taken by them to their rented house, where she had been sexually exploited. The next day, ABC approached the Fire Station Officer and the SHO to complain about the rape, but neither took cognizance of the case. Thereafter, the girl committed suicide by burning herself. A case ivas registered on 17 August 1998, but only after a protest and a road blockade by the residents of the village. The report of the investigation team also indicated that the station diary for 16 August 1998, had been tampered with. It was also observed that while the SHO had visited the scene of the crime, he did not record the dying declaration of ABC, though she was capable of giving one at that time. Upon perusing the report, the Commission held that SHO, Dibai, and the in-charge. Fire Station, Dibai, had not conducted themselves in a manner befitting tiieir office and responsibilities, and that they had not only shown a lack of sensitivity in a matter of grave importance, namely the protection of a Dalit girl subjected to sexual assault, but had been thoroughly negligent in not taking cognizance of the complaint lodged by ABC. Instead, the Commission noted, they had allegedly made derogatory and uncharitable remarks about the girl. The Commission observed that the attitude of these two officers had driven ABC to take the extreme step of ending her life by setting herself on fire, having been left with the impression that she would not get justice. The Commission further observed that the remarks and inaction on the part of the officials might, perhaps, make them liable for the offence of abetment of suicide by ABC, which was punishable under Section 306, IPC, and needed to be investigated. 130