NHRC for compensation to victims of Bharti's raids

The National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to Delhi government asking why compensation should not be paid to 12 African women   detained during a controversial raid led by AAPP leader Somnath Bharti in January.

Bharti,  Delhi's Law Minister during the brief AAP government, had led a late-night raid in south Delhi's Khirki Extension.

The women were “detained and manhandled” following allegations  that they were involved in a prostitution and drug-peddling racket. Bharti claimed to have received complaints about this.  However, the women tested negative for  drugs.

The NHRC said monetary relief could be paid to the women under section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act.

“Prima facie, it was proved that there was gross violation of human rights of the African women,” said Jaimini Kumar Srivastava, NHRC spokesperson.

The NHRC has also asked Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi to inform the status of the case registered with Malviya Nagar police station on January 19 on the basis of the women's complaint.

“The role of the then Law Minister was not as per the existing provisions of the law as prima facie he violated the provisions of law while holding the constitutional post,” the NHRC said in a statement. 

Delhi government and the city police have been given six weeks’ time to respond to the NHRC.

The woman had earlier complained to  the Uganda High Commission, NHRC, Delhi Police and National Commission for Women. 

The FIR registered is under sections 153-A (promoting enmity between classes), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (outraging women modesty), 509 (uttering any word or making any gesture intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 147 (rioting) of the Indian Penal Code.

The women had identified Bharti as the leader of the mob, but no arrest has been made so far.