The images from the commemorative programme capture more than a formal gathering. They document a living tradition of people’s journalism and human rights advocacy, carried forward by those who refuse to forget.
The programme, organised to mark the birth anniversary of senior journalist Sushil Tripathi, brought together journalists, social activists, writers, and human rights defenders. Floral tributes were offered to his portrait, symbolising collective gratitude to a man who consistently stood with the marginalised and the voiceless.
The hall resonated with shared memories—of Tripathi’s fearless reporting, his sharp critique of state violence, and his unwavering solidarity with victims of injustice. Speakers recalled how he used journalism not as a profession alone, but as a public responsibility.
Sushil Tripathi belonged to a generation of journalists who believed that journalism must speak truth to power. He reported from the ground, amplified voices of victims of custodial violence, caste atrocities, fake encounters, and state apathy—often at great personal risk.
In an era increasingly dominated by corporate media and manufactured narratives, his work reminds us of what ethical journalism truly means:
Standing with victims, not institutions
Questioning authority, not echoing it
Documenting injustice, not sanitising it
The discussions during the programme did not remain confined to the past. Participants strongly connected Tripathi’s legacy with present realities—rising custodial deaths, encounter killings, deaths due to electrocution, and systemic neglect of the poor.
Recent human rights cases, including deaths in police custody and negligence by state agencies, were cited as evidence that the struggle Tripathi stood for is far from over. His legacy lives on in every complaint filed, every fact-finding report prepared, and every voice raised against injustice.
The presence of senior citizens, young activists, journalists, and community members reflected a shared understanding: remembering Sushil Tripathi is also a commitment—to continue questioning, documenting, and resisting injustice.
Such commemorations are not rituals of nostalgia. They are acts of political and moral reaffirmation. They remind us that democracy survives not because of power, but because of dissent.
His life urges us to ask: If not now, then when? If not us, then who?
Over the last few years, I have approached the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC) in multiple cases involving custodial deaths, child exploitation, murder of minors, witch-hunting, prison deaths, and police excesses. These cases span Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand and reflect a disturbing pattern: while criminal law is often “set in motion,” systemic accountability and victim-centric relief remain weak or delayed.
This blog post documents several such cases, based entirely on NHRC proceedings, action taken reports, and official correspondence.
NHRC Diary No. 15470/IN/2024 | Case No. 24228/24/45/2024
In September 2024, a shocking incident came to light from Kushinagar where a couple, trapped in extreme poverty and debt, sold their two-and-a-half-year-old son for ₹20,000 to arrange hospital discharge for their newborn. The family also alleged police extortion during questioning.
NHRC took cognizance and called for reports from the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police. FIRs were registered, accused persons arrested, and an illegal clinic was sealed. However, the Commission closed the case citing Regulation 9(xi) of NHRC Regulations, 1994, on the ground that the matter was sub judice.
Allegations of police misconduct
Rehabilitation and welfare entitlements for the family
Structural failures that force families into child trafficking
Diary No. 2726/IN/2024 | Case No. 134/34/18/2024
In February 2024, members of a tribal family, including minor children, were brutally murdered after being branded as “witches.” NHRC sought reports from district authorities and police.
Police reported arrests and impending charge-sheet filing. Victim compensation was stated to be under process. NHRC subsequently closed the case, noting that law had taken its course.
Diary No. 1526/IN/2023 | Case No. 3112/24/48/2023
A Class VIII student, Priya, died after alleged brutal assault in a school hostel. Initially, no arrests were made. NHRC repeatedly sought progress reports. Eventually, investigation was transferred to CBCID.
NHRC closed the case with a direction to CBCID to investigate in accordance with law.
Diary No. 6590/IN/2022 | Case No. 669/34/17/2022-AD
A 35-year-old woman died while in judicial custody at Sahibganj Jail. For nearly two years, NHRC repeatedly called for:
Histopathology and FSL reports
Final cause of death
Due to non-compliance, NHRC issued conditional summons under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. Eventually, reports were submitted stating the cause of death as cardio-respiratory failure, and the matter was sent to DG (Investigation), NHRC for analysis.
Diary No. 18955/IN/2023 | Case No. 4244/4/12/2023-AD
Pankaj Kushwaha allegedly died due to police beating in custody at Kateya Police Station, Bihar, after being detained on charges related to liquor smuggling. Family members refused last rites, demanding justice.
NHRC identified serious gaps:
Missing General Diary (GD) entries
No explanation for handing custody to family during hospital visit
Absence of mandatory magisterial enquiry under Section 176(1-A) CrPC
As of June 2025, NHRC again called for reports, warning of coercive action for non-compliance.
Across these cases, certain patterns emerge:
“Sub judice” closures without parallel human rights scrutiny
Delayed or incomplete compliance by state authorities
Over-reliance on the existence of FIRs as proof of justice
Limited focus on victim rehabilitation, compensation, and prevention
The NHRC plays a crucial constitutional role. However, human rights protection cannot end where criminal procedure merely begins.
Stronger enforcement of NHRC recommendations
Time-bound compliance mechanisms
Victim-centric and preventive approaches
Accountability for police and institutional failures
Human rights defenders will continue to document, pursue, and raise these issues—not against institutions, but for the promise of constitutional justice they are meant to uphold.
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The brutal murder of an entire Scheduled Tribe family, including minor children, in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand in February 2024 exposes the deadly consequences of witch-hunting, social superstition, and structural failure of state protection mechanisms in tribal regions. Though criminal law was set in motion swiftly, the case raises serious questions about prevention, rehabilitation, and long-term accountability.
This blog examines the case through the lens of NHRC monitoring, criminal justice response, and human rights obligations of the State.
NHRC Diary No.: 2726/IN/2024
NHRC Case/File No.: 134/34/18/2024
Incident Category: Murder (Witch-Hunting)
Victims: Members of one tribal family (including minor children)
Victim Community: Scheduled Tribe
Incident Date: 17 February 2024
Incident Place: Tungbasha village, Hatgamharia PS, West Singhbhum, Jharkhand
Complainant: Lenin Raghuvanshi
Mode of Complaint: HRCNet / Online
NHRC Registration Date: 19 February 2024
According to media reports cited in the NHRC complaint:
A tribal family was brutally assaulted and murdered after being branded as “witches”
The attack involved collective violence, including killing of minor children
The incident occurred in a remote tribal area under Hatgamharia Police Station
The bodies of the victims were later recovered from a railway track, indicating extreme brutality and an attempt to destroy evidence
The killings represent a classic case of witch-hunting, a practice that continues to claim lives in tribal and rural belts despite statutory prohibitions.
As reported to NHRC by the Superintendent of Police, West Singhbhum:
FIR No.: 04/2024
Date of FIR: 17.02.2024
Sections Invoked:
Section 302 IPC (Murder)
Section 34 IPC (Common Intention)
Section 201 IPC (Causing disappearance of evidence)
All five accused persons were arrested on 18.02.2024
Accused were remanded to judicial custody
Investigation substantiated allegations against the accused
Case was stated to be likely culminating in filing of charge sheet
Proposal for victim compensation was forwarded through appropriate channels
NHRC took prompt cognizance on 19.02.2024, recognizing:
The gruesome nature of the crime
The vulnerability of Scheduled Tribe victims
The involvement of children among the deceased
On 04 April 2024, NHRC directed:
District Magistrate, West Singhbhum
Senior Superintendent of Police, West Singhbhum
To submit:
Updated criminal case status
Details of victim compensation and relief measures
Based on the report submitted:
FIR registered promptly
Accused arrested and prosecution initiated
Allegations substantiated
Criminal law set into motion
NHRC concluded:
“Since FIR has been registered, accused have been arrested and allegations substantiated, the law will take its own course. No further intervention of the Commission is required.”
The case was formally closed by NHRC.
Witch-hunting is not merely superstition—it is:
Collective violence
Caste and community-based persecution
A violation of Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution
Despite laws in Jharkhand against witch-hunting, prevention failed.
The crime raises concerns about:
Absence of early-warning mechanisms in tribal areas
Lack of community awareness programs
Weak monitoring by local administration
State accountability does not end with arrests—it begins with prevention.
As Scheduled Tribe members, the victims were entitled to:
Special protection under constitutional safeguards
State vigilance against social violence
Rehabilitation and support for surviving kin
NHRC records mention compensation proposals, but details of disbursement, rehabilitation, and long-term support remain unclear.
While criminal prosecution is essential, justice for witch-hunting victims must include:
Speedy trial and conviction
Compensation and rehabilitation
Community sensitization
Accountability of local officials for prior negligence
Closure of monitoring should not mean closure of responsibility.
This case reminds us that:
Witch-hunting is still a lethal reality
Tribal lives remain vulnerable to collective violence
Arrests alone do not dismantle superstition-driven crimes
State institutions must act before blood is spilled
The purpose of victim compensation laws is to ensure that survivors of sexual violence receive timely financial relief and rehabilitation, independent of the outcome of trial. However, an NHRC-monitored case from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, reveals a troubling gap between legal entitlement and administrative practice, raising serious concerns about access to justice for minor survivors.
This blog analyses NHRC Case No. 17311/24/48/2024, which was closed by the Commission on 19 December 2024, despite denial of compensation by district authorities.
NHRC Diary No.: 8005/IN/2024
NHRC Case/File No.: 17311/24/48/2024
Victim: Minor girl (identity protected)
Incident: Gang rape
Registration Date (NHRC): 30 August 2024
Complainant: Lenin Raghuvanshi
Location: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
The complaint, based on a newspaper report, alleged that:
A minor girl was gang-raped by four accused persons
The family initially approached the police, but no prompt action was taken
Following NHRC’s intervention:
FIR No. 195/2024 was registered at PS Thakurganj, Lucknow
Sections invoked:
IPC: 376D, 323, 328, 342, 504, 506, 120B
POCSO Act: Sections 5G / 6
Five accused were named
All accused were arrested
Chargesheet filed against four accused in regular court
One accused was a minor; a separate chargesheet was filed before the Juvenile Justice Board, Lucknow
At this stage, the criminal justice process had formally moved forward.
Vide proceedings dated 07 November 2024, the NHRC made an important finding:
Since a chargesheet under Section 376D IPC had been filed,
The Commission noted that:
The first installment must be paid within 15 days of FIR registration
The remaining amount must be released within one month of filing the chargesheet (chargesheet filed in July 2024)
Accordingly, NHRC directed the District Magistrate, Lucknow, to:
Release the compensation
Submit a compliance report within four weeks
In response, the Office of the District Magistrate, Lucknow, submitted:
A report dated 12 December 2024
An order of the District Steering Committee, which rejected the proposal for monetary relief
The rejection was made despite:
Filing of chargesheet
Explicit NHRC observation on statutory entitlement
Clear timelines prescribed under the Rules
On 19 December 2024, the NHRC closed the case with the observation that:
The criminal case is sub judice
Since chargesheet has been filed, further intervention by the Commission is not warranted
Accordingly, the case was marked:
“Concluded and No Further Action Required”
Under the Rani Lakshmi Bai Mahila Evam Bal Samman Kosh Rules, 2015, compensation:
Is a statutory relief
Is triggered by registration of FIR and filing of chargesheet
Is not dependent on trial outcome
Rejection by the District Steering Committee appears inconsistent with the Rules themselves.
The NHRC:
Acknowledged entitlement
Issued a clear direction to release compensation
Yet, the district authority:
Rejected the proposal
Faced no further scrutiny after case closure
This creates a serious accountability vacuum.
For a minor survivor of gang rape:
Compensation is crucial for medical care, counseling, education, and rehabilitation
Delay or denial deepens secondary victimization
Closure without relief sends a discouraging message to survivors
For survivors of sexual violence, Article 21 includes:
Right to rehabilitation
Right to state support
Right to live with dignity after trauma
The POCSO regime emphasizes:
Child-centric justice
Immediate support and compensation
Avoidance of re-traumatization
Administrative denial of relief defeats the spirit of child protection laws.
Filing of chargesheet does not automatically translate into victim relief
Statutory compensation schemes can be rendered ineffective by administrative discretion
Closure of cases without resolving compensation disputes risks normalizing injustice
Justice for survivors is not only about arrest and trial—it is also about timely support and rehabilitation.
When a minor survivor is legally entitled to compensation, denial is not a procedural lapse—it is a moral failure.
If compensation schemes fail at the district level, the promise of survivor-centric justice remains unfulfilled.
Ragging in educational institutions is not merely an issue of indiscipline—it is a serious human rights violation that threatens life, dignity, and the right to education. The case of brutal ragging at Allahabad University’s Shatabdi Boys Hostel in February 2022 starkly illustrates how institutional violence, when coupled with investigative delay, results in prolonged injustice for victims.
This blog analyses the case as recorded and monitored by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over nearly three years, highlighting systemic failures and accountability gaps.
NHRC Diary No.: 28171/CR/2022
NHRC Case/File No.: 7785/24/4/2022
Incident Category: Ragging
Victim: Male student (identity protected)
Incident Date: 14 February 2022
Incident Place: Shatabdi Boys Hostel, Allahabad University, Prayagraj
Complainant: Lenin Raghuvanshi
Mode of Complaint: Email (24 February 2022)
According to multiple reports published in Amar Ujala (16–17 February 2022):
The victim student was forcibly disrobed
His hands were tied, and a belt was fastened around his neck
He was brutally beaten, dragged out of the hostel room, and threatened
Outsiders allegedly participated along with senior hostel residents
The victim suffered severe physical and psychological trauma
Due to fear and insecurity, the victim later left the hostel
The incident led to public outrage and registration of a criminal case.
Based on police submissions to NHRC:
FIR No.: 74/2022
Police Station: Karnalganj, Prayagraj
Sections Invoked:
IPC Sections: 147, 148, 149, 323, 504, 506, 452
Initially included Sections 384 & 394 IPC (later dropped)
Section 5 of the Anti-Ragging Act
The FIR named four accused persons and several unknown individuals.
NHRC took cognizance of the matter in March 2022, recognizing the seriousness of the allegations involving:
Brutal physical assault
Forced stripping
Involvement of outsiders
Failure to ensure campus safety
From February 2023 to January 2025, NHRC issued at least 16 directions calling for:
Status of investigation
Arrest of accused
Steps under Sections 82–83 CrPC (proclamation and attachment)
Clarification on delays
Despite this, reports submitted by the police repeated earlier statements, without substantive progress.
In its proceedings dated 05 October 2023, NHRC explicitly noted:
“The approach of police seems to be lackadaisical in nature. Already more than 18 months have elapsed.”
Again, in January 2025, the Commission recorded that:
No new facts were presented
Investigation remained inconclusive
Accused persons were not effectively identified or arrested
Sections 384 and 394 IPC (extortion and robbery) were dropped during investigation, raising questions about:
Evidence evaluation
Victim protection during investigation
The case changed hands multiple times:
SI Harshveer Singh
SI Vinay Singh
SI Abhishek Kumar Singh
Such frequent transfers often weaken continuity and accountability.
Despite NHRC’s specific queries:
Police failed to clearly demonstrate use of Sections 82–83 CrPC
No effective strategy to trace or arrest absconding accused was shown
Media reports and NHRC records indicate:
The victim was forced to leave the hostel
He suffered fear, insecurity, and disruption of education
This reflects secondary victimization due to institutional failure
The incident violates the victim’s right to life and dignity, which includes:
Bodily integrity
Mental well-being
Safe educational environment
Universities and hostels have a positive obligation to:
Prevent ragging
Act immediately upon complaints
Ensure protection of victims
Prolonged investigation—spanning nearly three years—undermines:
Deterrence against ragging
Confidence in the justice system
Faith in anti-ragging frameworks
NHRC finally directed:
The Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj shall ensure sincere efforts to identify the accused, make arrests, complete investigation in a fair and speedy manner, and file the police report at the earliest. An additional report shall be furnished within four weeks.
This direction reflects NHRC’s continued dissatisfaction with police performance.
This case demonstrates that:
Ragging is not an isolated student issue but a serious crime
Institutional apathy and investigative delay compound the original violence
Monitoring without enforcement risks normalizing impunity
The NHRC’s persistence is notable, but effective accountability depends on executive compliance, not repeated reminders.
This case must serve as a warning that anti-ragging laws are only as strong as their implementation—and that human dignity cannot be subjected to bureaucratic inertia.
| Case No.- 7785/24/4/2022 |
| NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION |
| (LAW DIVISION) |
| * * * |
| MANAV ADHIKAR BHAWAN, BLOCK-C, |
| G.P.O. COMPLEX, INA, NEW DELHI- 110023 |
| Fax No.: 011-24651332 Website: www.nhrc.nic.in |
| Date : 05/10/2023 |
| To, |
| THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE Police Commissionerate Prayagraj PRAYAGRAJ (ALLAHABAD) UTTAR PRADESH Email- cp-pol.ah@up.gov.in |
| Sub : Complaint/Intimation from |
LENIN RAGHUVANSHI |
| Subject: Additional Information Called for -7785/24/4/2022. |
| Sir/Madam, |
| I am directed to say that the matter was considered by the Commission on 05/10/2023 and the Commission has directed as follows.: |
| The instant complaint, based on media reports, has highlighted an incident of raging of one hostel student of Allahabad University, on 14.02.2022, by his seniors, who forcefully disrobed the victim and brutally assaulted him with help of some outsiders. Vide proceedings dated 24.07.2023 additional/status report was called form Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh observing as under:- “…Pursuant to same report dated 25.05.2023 received from Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj. As per associated report investigation is still continuing. It is stated in the report that efforts are made for arrest of accused persons. The incident is of 16.02.2022. The Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh is directed to clarify as to what efforts have been made. Whether steps for proceeding U/s 82 and 83 of Cr.P.C. have been taken or not. The requisite status report be filed within four weeks.” Pursuant to same report dated 29.08.2023 received. It is reiterated that the reinvestigation is continuing. It is further submitted that location of accused Gyanesh Singh was not found at the spot and therefore his involvement has been found to be false, and efforts for arrest of other accused persons are made. It is pertinent to clarify here that the concerned authority has failed to clarify whether the steps qua proceeding U/s 82 and 83 of Cr.P.C. have been taken or not. The report is not satisfactory in this regard. The approach of police seems to be lackadaisical in nature. Already more than 18 months have been elapsed. In view of same let fresh status report be called from Commissioner of Police, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh in terms of above referred directions, within four weeks failing which this Commission will be constrained to invoke its coercive powers u/s 13 of PHR Act. 1993. |
| 2. It is therefore, requested that the additional/complete report as directed by the Commission in the matter be sent latest by 12/11/2023, for futher consideration by the Commission. |
| 3. Any communication by public authorities in this matter may please be sent to the Commission through the HRCNet Portal (https://hrcnet.nic.in) by using id and password already provided to the public authorities (click Authority Login). Any Audio/ Video CDs/ pen drives etc. may be sent through Speed Post/ per bearer. The reports/ responses sent through email may not be entertained |
Your’s faithfully |
