NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (c) Police High-handedness 6) Suicide by a Family due to Police Inaction (Case No. 2981/7/6/2013) 4.40 The matter related to an unfortunate incident of death of an entire family (except a lone survivor) by consumption of poison due to the indignity, stigma and insult perceived by poor Mahender, father of the victim who was subjected to sexual assault by a miscreant. Ironically, the miscreant was acquitted by the trial court due to the inability of the prosecution to produce the victim girl in the court at the time of trial despite several opportunities given to them. 4.41 The Commission vide its proceedings dated 04.02.2016 directed the DGP, Haryana to get an enquiry conducted into the matter by CB/CID under his personal supervision and take disciplinary action against the erring police official/s found responsible. Further the Director, (Prosecution), Haryana was also directed to examine the possibility of filing an appeal against the judgment of acquittal. 4.42 In response, a report dated 09.06.2016 was received from the DGP, Haryana informing that the matter in question had been enquired into by the CB/CID and necessary instructions were issued to the DSP, Barwala in FIR No. 2212/2013 u/s 346/363 IPC to rescue the victim girl with all sincerity. It was intimated that the departmental action has been initiated against the erring police personnel. A report dated 25.05.2016 was also received from the Director (Prosecution), Haryana stating that the matter was re-examined by him thoroughly and no additional ground was found for preferring an appeal against the judgment of acquittal. 4.43 The Commission, considered the matter again when it found that after recording the statement of the victim u/s 164 Cr.P.C. on 23.05.2012 she was found missing from her house. The Commission observed that missing of a victim soon after registration of a rape case was very serious which should have been taken note of by the Police with abundant precaution. The police only made a DD Entry and the same was endorsed to PS Uklana, Hissar. No sincere efforts seem to have been made by the Police to rescue her. Finally Police registered a case on 22.02.2013 vide FIR No. 54/2013 u/s 346 IPC at P.S. Uklana, Hissar by converting the DD Entry to FIR but by then much time had elapsed and whereabouts of the victim remained a mystery for which the prosecution failed to produce the victim at the time of trial. During this period, the parents of the victim turned hostile due to circumstances beyond anybody’s comprehension. The incidents that engulfed the poor Mahender during this period cost him his entire family leaving behind the missing daughter. Though negligence in absolute terms could not be attributed to the entire police authorities but the negligence of particular officials played a major role to dishearten the man against the system that drove him to take Annual Report 2017-2018 51