The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Wednesday, 8 July took serious cognisance of the alleged gang rape and trafficking of a 13-year-old girl in Sri Ganganagar district, Rajasthan, directing authorities to complete a time-bound investigation, fix accountability, and overhaul child protection mechanisms in the region. The Commission held a formal hearing under the chairpersonship of NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar.

Key Directives from the NCW

The Commission observed that the incident exposed serious administrative lapses, policing shortcomings, and inadequate monitoring systems that allegedly allowed the crimes to continue unchecked. It stressed the need for effective coordination among police, medical authorities, and forensic agencies to ensure a comprehensive and expeditious investigation.

The NCW directed investigating authorities to file the chargesheet before the competent court within the prescribed statutory timeline and ensure that the trial commences without delay to facilitate speedy justice for the survivor.

Status of the Investigation

An ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe is underway, and 18 accused have reportedly been arrested so far, including hotel owners, managers, and other individuals allegedly linked to the crime. The Commission emphasised that remaining accused persons must be apprehended at the earliest and the investigation concluded in a time-bound manner.

The hearing was attended by Sri Ganganagar District Magistrate Amit Yadav, Superintendent of Police Harishankar, Additional Superintendent of Police and SIT head Deepak Kumar, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Chairperson Jogendra Kaushik, and other CWC members.

Action Against Illegal Establishments

The Commission directed District Magistrate Amit Yadav to identify all unregistered and unauthorised hotels and commercial establishments operating in the district and take strict enforcement action against them within 15 days. It also instructed the administration to fix responsibility for allowing such establishments to function without adhering to mandatory regulations.

Superintendent of Police Harishankar has been directed to conduct an accountability assessment regarding the failure of local policing mechanisms — including patrolling and monitoring systems — which allegedly failed to detect the trafficking and repeated sexual abuse of the minor.

Survivor Protection and Rehabilitation

The NCW expressed concern over the delay in producing the survivor before the Child Welfare Committee, observing that such a delay amounted to a violation of statutory child protection provisions. The CWC has been directed to conduct immediate and surprise visits to the survivor's residence and continuously monitor her rehabilitation and protection.

Taking serious note of videos and other content related to the minor survivor circulating on digital platforms, the Commission directed police to ensure their immediate removal from all social media and online platforms, and to initiate strict legal action against those involved in recording, sharing, or circulating such material under laws protecting the privacy and dignity of sexual assault survivors.

The District Magistrate and CWC have also been asked to expedite financial assistance, compensation, and rehabilitation measures for the survivor's long-term welfare. A comprehensive Action Taken Report has been sought from the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police within 15 days, covering investigation progress, action against illegal establishments, accountability measures, and steps to strengthen child safety across the district.