New Delhi, September 3: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has sought action taken reports from authorities within seven days in three separate cases involving alleged sexual offences against minor girls, including the reported gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in a moving sleeper bus in the Delhi-NCR region.
The NCW took suo motu cognisance of the incidents and directed the concerned authorities to provide details of investigations and steps taken to protect the victims.In the Delhi-NCR case, the 16-year-old Class 11 student from Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh was allegedly assaulted by multiple persons while travelling in a sleeper bus.
The commission has asked Delhi Police to provide an update on the investigation, forensic examination, evidence collected and progress of the chargesheet.
The NCW has also stressed the need to preserve physical and digital evidence, including the bus, medical records, vehicle tracking information, call records and CCTV footage that could assist investigators in establishing the sequence of events.
The commission has called for appropriate action under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), wherever applicable. It has also directed authorities to ensure legal assistance, counselling, protection and other support for the survivor and her family.
In Maharashtra, the NCW has sought a report over allegations of sexual harassment and molestation involving 22 minor girls at an Adivasi Ashram Shala in Shahapur, Thane district. The allegations involve a kitchen worker at the institution.The commission has sought a detailed investigation into the incident as well as possible institutional lapses.
It has also raised concerns over reports that the accused had faced a POCSO-related arrest in 2024 in connection with an alleged similar offence and was later posted at another institution.The third case concerns the alleged rape of an 11-year-old girl in Hoshiarpur, Punjab.
The NCW has sought an action taken report from the state authorities and called for strict legal and administrative measures if the allegations are established.The commission has emphasised that the identities of minor victims must be protected and that they should receive appropriate medical, psychological and legal assistance.
Through its intervention in the three cases, the NCW has stressed the need for prompt investigations, accountability and effective protection mechanisms for children.
