Taking note of 'gross violation of human rights' of a woman at the hands of the Uttar Pradesh police, the National Human Rights Commission has directed the state government to pay compensation of Rs 500,000 to the victim who was rendered permanently disabled.

The Commission received a complaint from Member of Parliament Rangnath Misra stating that one Usha Kiran Vajpayee was administering polio drops in Chilli village when four inebriated police sepoys misbehaved with her.

Upon her objection, one of the sepoys manhandled her and started abusing. The complaint added that Vajpayee abandoned her work and started to run, but the sepoys fired at her hitting her in the leg, which had to be amputated.

One of the sepoys was sent to jail and the others suspended after a departmental inquiry.

Following the Commission's directions, the Uttar Pradesh police informed that the investigation was being conducted by the district police and charge sheets had been filed against the accused.

Considering this report, the Commission observed that the injury resulting in amputation of one of the legs of the victim required immediate interim relief and issued a show-cause notice to which there was no response from Uttar Pradesh.

Five months into the notice, the Commission felt that "obviously the state government had no cause to show against the award of immediate relief". It held that the facts of this case disclosed 'gross violation' of human rights, ordering an immediate relief of Rs 500,000 to the victim.