Panel to question cops for detaining Gurjar women

New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) will look into the complaints filed by the Gurjar community about the alleged police atrocities on women during their ongoing agitation.

The NCW said it received complaints from some members of the agitating community in which they requested the commission to conduct a probe into the incidents where women were beaten up by the police.

"We will look into the matter and if any woman has been ill-treated by police then the commission would take required steps," NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas said.

In a complaint lodged with the NCW on June 12, Aurag Kasana and Sunil Kumar Bainsla, both from the community, alleged that women protesters were beaten up by police during he peaceful protest.

"Women protesters had not done anything unlawful. But the police had beaten them mercilessly and levelled various charges against them. We have requested the NCW to conduct an independent inquiry to find out the truth in the matter," Anurag Kasana, the complainant said.

The Commission is likely to send a team to Rajasthan to inquire the matter. The team is expected to visit Salwas, Moradi Bhavdarosu, Gudaroad, Aaspura and Kirathpura in the state.

The Commission will investigate whether or not the women from the community have violated any law during the agitation, Vyas said.

Protesting Gurjars have been demanding scheduled tribes (ST) status for the community. The agitation has crippled road transport and normal life in and around many parts of the state.

"If the woman were not involved in uprooting of the railway tracks and destroying any national property then the police behaviour should have been all the more restrained. In case, if any of them are involved even then there should have been female officials to handle them," Vyas said.

The Commission will work on these aspects and investigate everything before preparing a report on the issue, she said.

A 28-member delegation of the Gurjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti and nine representatives of the state government are participating in talks in an effort to end the imbroglio.

Meanwhile, Gurjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla was still camping with his supporters in Karwadi-Pilupura area, the nerve center of the agitation.