The NHRC served notices to the Odisha and Uttar Pradesh police chiefs after a media report revealed that a 17-year-old tribal girl from Dhenkanal district was allegedly trafficked, sold and subjected to repeated sexual assaults for over two years in Jhansi.
"The victim and three other girls were reportedly 'trafficked' to Uttar Pradesh on the pretext of providing jobs," the National Human Rights Commission said.
The tribal girl managed to escape with the help of a local advocate and approached the Jhansi police.
Although her statement was recorded, it was alleged that no further action was taken by the police except for providing a train ticket to Odisha, the human rights body said in a statement.
Upon her return, the Odisha Police recorded her statement, and an investigation is underway, it said.
The NHRC said it has "taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that a 17-year-old tribal girl from the Kankadahada area of Dhenkanal district, Odisha, was trafficked, sold and subjected to repeated sexual assaults for about two years in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh".
The commission has observed that the content of the news report, if true, raises serious issues of violation of human rights.
Therefore, it has issued notices to the directors general of police of Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, and the district magistrate of Dhenkanal, seeking a detailed report on it in two weeks.
It is expected to include the status of the investigation and steps taken to provide relief and rehabilitation to the victim, the rights panel said.
According to the media report, carried on May 29, the victim was allegedly confined in a house for nearly three months and was repeatedly subjected to sexual assault there.
It is further alleged that when the victim became pregnant, she was forced to undergo an abortion without her consent.
"Thereafter, she was allegedly sold to another person for Rs 50,000 and repeatedly sexually assaulted by several others for nearly two years, before managing to escape", the statement said.