The three cases involve severe torture, public parade of a naked woman, alleged ragging at Tripura Medical College and forced marriage of a woman, officials reported on Saturday. A THRC official said the commission, headed by former Tripura High Court judge Swapan Chandra Das, had directed authorities to investigate each incident and submit detailed reports within two to three weeks.

Agartala: The Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC) has taken suo-motu cognizance of three recent incidents of atrocities against women in the state.

The three cases include serious torture, parading a naked woman; allegations of harassment at Tripura Medical College and forcing a woman to marry a youth, officials said on Saturday.

A THRC official said the commission, headed by former Tripura High Court judge Swapan Chandra Das, has asked the authorities concerned to investigate the three incidents and submit detailed reports on each case in a delay of two to three weeks.

In a shocking incident, a married woman was severely beaten, stripped and paraded naked earlier this week in Bagber area under Kalamchaura police station in Sepahijala district.

Referring to the incident, the THRC said in its order that the reported fact would not fail to shock any person in a civilized society.

Referring to a Supreme Court case, the commission said the apex court has given detailed observations on women’s rights which appear to be often violated. Anyway, THRC is very shocked to see such incidents in the BJP-ruled state. Tripura, where the rule of law is strictly respected.

The THRC has ordered the Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report within three weeks.

Police have so far arrested three people in connection with the incident while three other accused are on the run.

Referring to media reports of harassment, the THRC ordered the principal of Tripura Medical College, a semi-government institution, to submit a comprehensive report on the alleged incident of harassment within three weeks.

Further, the commission mandated an independent inquiry by the district magistrate and superintendent of police of West Tripura district and submission of findings within three weeks.

“Disguising is not only a criminal offense, but it also violates the human rights of students. It calls for immediate action under the Tripura Educational Establishments (Prevention of Shredding) Act, 1990, the panel said.

The THRC order referred to earlier interventions in a similar incident in 2022 at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Gomati district, which resulted in targeted recommendations to combat shredding.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who also heads the housing, health and family welfare departments, while speaking to the media condemned the violence at Tripura Medical College and asked the authorities to take appropriate measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.

In the October 30 order, the THRC also took note of a report of unlawful interference in the privacy of two adults by local leaders, who, acting outside legal bounds, allegedly forced a girl adult to marry a young person.

Although police were aware of the situation, THRC noted that “the police action as reported was reversed,” indicating a lack of appropriate response.

The committee found it necessary to seek a report from the DGP on the incident within two weeks.