GUWAHATI, July 3: A division bench of Assam Human Right Commission (AHRC), comprising chairperson, Justice Dr Aftab Hussain Saikia and member Jyoti Prasad Chaliha has taken suo motu cognizance of the attack upon Dr Rumi Nath, MLA of Borkhola Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC) and her newly-wed husband Jacky Jakir, during their stay at a hotel in Karimganj on June 29.

 The MLA was on a visit to her constituency to take stock of the severe flood situation. After the attack on Dr Rumi Nath and her husband was widely published and telecast in all print and electronic media, the AHRC took suo motu cognizance of the case.

The AHRC expressed deep concern about the incident and stated that under to circumstances, should law be taken into one’s hands. “The fact that Dr Nath was reportedly pregnant further adds poignancy to the pathos of an act, which by any standard is alien to civilized society and norms,” observed the commission.

The commission had sent notices to the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Karimganj police and directed separate enquiries into the case and to submit a report of the enquiries before the Commission within four weeks after receipt of the notice. The Deputy Commissioner and superintendent of police were directed to inform the commission that “if they could anticipate the trouble on the night of June 29, in view of some troubles faced by Dr Nath and her husband during the day, why were precautionary measures not taken to ensure safety and security of the MLA and her husband?”

They have also been asked to inform the commission if persons involved in this incident as well as those abetting the crime could have been identified and detected and, if so, the commission should be informed about the names of these persons and the steps taken against them.

The same division bench of AHRC in another order, issued notice to the Director of Health and Family Welfare Department to institute an enquiry into the alleged administration of medicine of expired date to a two-year-old infant girl at Moran State dyspensary in Sivasagar district. The administration of the medicine had aggravated the condition of the infant, Megha Kumari of Moran Piyali Phookan Nagar, stated a release.