NHRC seeks report on 5-year-old's death

NEW DELHI: Taking suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a five-year-old boy after a damaged entry gate of a colony in northwest Delhi's Siraspur locality fell on him, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the chief secretary, Delhi Development Authority and city police commissioner.

The incident happened on October 28, 2023 and the victim's family members and colony residents have claimed that no action was taken despite their repeated complaints to the residents' welfare association and DDA about the broken gate.

Observing that the contents of the news report, if true, amount to grave violation of the right to life of the victim, NHRC issued notices to DDA vice chairman, the chief secretary, Delhi government and the police commissioner seeking detailed reports in the matter within four weeks.

The authorities are directed to inform the commission whether any relief has been granted to the aggrieved family besides the action taken against the officials responsible for not acting on the complaints regarding the damaged gate.

"The police is expected to inform the status of the FIR registered to the commission... clarify the contradiction between police version stating that there was no eyewitness to the incident while the uncle of the deceased child has reportedly stated that many people were present on the spot when the incident occurred," said the commission in the notice.