NHRC takes cognisance of ‘murder’ of army jawan from Banaskantha on board train

When asked about the motive for the alleged killing, Kumar said, “Primarily, it appears that the argument between the accused and deceased did begin over the bedsheets. But we are still investigating the matter, which is why we sought additional remand.” The GRP has got an additional three day remand of Memon.

The NHRC complaint was lodged on November 4 by Tanmay N, convenor of Sahyadri Rights Forum. Acting on this complaint, NHRC on November 6 issued notices to the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board, as well as to the Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), asking them to submit an Action Taken Report as well as answer a set of four questions raised by the Commission, within the next two weeks.

Chaudhary – resident of Chhapi village of Banaskantha district, Gujarat – was on his way back home and boarded the Jammu Tawi-Sabarmati Express on Sunday (November 2), and the incident appears to have happened the same night.
Officials confirmed there was an altercation between Jigar Chaudhary and the accused, coach attendant Memon, over the former seeking bedsheets. This conflict turned fatal when Memon allegedly stabbed Chaudhary while the train was passing through Bikaner in Rajasthan. Chaudhary was declared dead and his post mortem was carried out in Bikaner.

His last rites were conducted with honours in Banaskantha on Wednesday (November 5).

The Indian Express accessed the Notice issued by the NHRC under section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights (PHR), 1993.

The notice states, “The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, has entrusted the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, with the responsibility of protecting and promoting the rights of all human beings in the country and having the powers of a civil court for inquiry u/s 13 of the PHR Act, 1993. The complainant, Convenor of Sahyadri Rights Forum, submitted a complaint regarding the brutal murder of the Indian Army Jawan, Jigar Kumar, in a moving train in Rajasthan by a coach attendant, Zubair Memon.”

It added, “The Forum sought the intervention of the Commission in the matter and requested to ensure an impartial investigation, punishment of the accused and complicit staff, protection of defence personnel’s rights, and provide justice and compensation to the soldier’s family. The allegations made in the complaint prima facie seem to be serious violations of the human rights of the victim. The Bench of the National Human Rights Commission, presided by Shri Priyank Kanoongo, Hon’ble Member, has taken cognizance u/s 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, in the matter.”

The NHRC has raised questions regarding the prescribed procedure for engagement of persons as attendants, whether there is a police verification before engaging attendants, and details of the agency through which the said attendant was engaged, if that was the case.