NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Women (NCW) will look into the complaints of police atrocities against some women members of the agitating Gujjar community and then take necessary action.
The NCW took this decision after complaints were lodged against the high-handedness of police against women protesters in Rajasthan.
NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas confirmed that the commission had received several complaints of Gujjar women being beaten up by police, and added: "We will look into the matter and if any woman has been ill-treated by police then the commission would take the required steps."
Anurag Kasana and Sunil Kumar Bainsala lodged the complaints with the NCW, alleging that police beat up women protesters. Both belong to the Gujjar community that is demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
"Women protesters had not done anything unlawful. But the police beat them up mercilessly and then leveled various charges against them. We ask the NCW to conduct an independent inquiry to find out the truth," Kasana said.
The NCW team that is to be sent to Rajasthan is expected to visit Salwas, Moradi Bhavdarosu, Gudaroad, Aaspura and Kirathpura. "The commission will investigate whether or not the women from the community violated any law during the protests," Vyas said.
Even if they had broken any law, the police behavior toward them should have been restrained. "If the women were not involved in uprooting of the railway tracks and destroying any national property then the police behavior should have been all the more restrained. And if any of them were involved even then women officials should have handled them," Vyas said.
Meanwhile, the third round of talks over two days (Friday and Saturday) between the Rajasthan government and representatives of the Gujjar community ended in a stalemate.
The Gujjars are adamant on getting the ST status, and they rejected the state government's compromise offer. Ramvir Singh Vidhuri, a senior Gujjar leader who participated in the talks, said: "There is nothing in the proposal."
"If the Rajasthan government wants to send a proposal to the central government, then it must clearly mention whether it is recommending (ST status for Gujjars) or not. And the recommendation must have a justification. Since the proposal does not mention any recommendation or justification, then how can we accept it?" he added.
