NHRC issues notice to Gurugram Police over alleged sexual assault

In a shocking case of child abuse that has sparked widespread outrage, five minor boys aged between 11 and 14 years were allegedly held captive for up to 18 hours, stripped, sexually assaulted, and subjected to severe torture at an under-construction building in DLF Phase 3, Gurugram. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports on the incident and issued a notice to the Gurugram Police Commissioner demanding a detailed report within two weeks.

The incident reportedly occurred on February 2, when the boys were playing near or entered the site. A contractor overseeing the construction possibly linked to a nearby paying guest facility and his four workers allegedly suspected the children of attempting to steal construction materials such as iron rods. Instead of informing the police, the accused reportedly detained the boys in a locked room. According to police and victim statements cited in multiple reports, the children endured prolonged brutality: they were stripped naked, subjected to sexual assault qualifying as aggravated penetrative sexual assault under Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, severely beaten and thrashed, burned with hot spoons, had petrol poured on their private parts creating an imminent threat of immolation, severe burns, or death and were threatened with further harm or death. The ordeal lasted 15–18 hours. When the boys’ mothers searched for their missing sons and reached the site, some were allegedly forced to sit with the children, humiliated, and verbally abused while pleading for their release. The children were eventually freed after repeated pleas.

One mother filed a complaint on February 3 at the Nathupur police post, leading to an FIR at DLF Phase-III police station. The accused have been booked under Section 10 of the POCSO Act for aggravated sexual assault on minors, as well as various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions for voluntarily causing hurt, wrongful confinement, negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter, common intention, and criminal intimidation by threatening death or grievous hurt. Two suspects Harendra (35), the main contractor who runs a flour mill and is involved in rental/property work in Gurugram, and Firoz (26), a worker from Uttar Pradesh who owns a utensil shop were arrested shortly after. The remaining three accused remain absconding, with police raids ongoing.