Desk: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken cognisance of the lathicharge on students at Dhanbad in Jharkhand. NCPCR has asked the DC of Dhanbad to submit a detailed probe report on the incident with a copy of statements of minor students and other documents related to the incident within 3 days of the receipt of its letter.
In a letter sent to the DC, the registrar of NCPCR Anu Chaudhary has said that the Commission has taken cognisance of the incident as per Section 13 (j) of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.
The Act empowers it to inquire into complaints and take sub motu notice of matters relating to (i) deprivation and violation of child rights; (ii) non-implementation of laws providing for protection and development of children; (iii) non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships to and ensuring welfare of the children and to provide relief to such children, or take up the issues arising out of such matters with appropriate authorities.
The letter of the NCPCR in Hindi reads (translated): “According to news on social media (Twitter), minors were protesting on the issue of examinations peacefully in Dhanbad district in Jharkhand. To stop the demonstration by the minors, the SDM carried out a lathicharge. The video clearly shows the lathicharge done by the SDM for stopping the protests and several minor girls were seriously injured in the incident.”
The NCPCR has asked the DC to submit the following documents within 3 days of the receipt of the letter: (i) Detailed probe report of the incident (ii) copy of the statements of minors (iii) Other necessary documents related to the incident.
It may be added here that a video of the lathicharge was widely shared on the social media and drew widespread condemnation from the social media users.
BJP has condemned the incident and has called for action against the officials guilty of carrying out a lathicharge on students.
