The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report about a woman committing suicide alleging sexual harassment by a man in the Raidurgam area of Hyderabad in Telangana on 27^th November, 2024. The victim from Odisha was purportedly brought to the city through middlemen for surrogacy under a deal of Rs 10 lakh with her husband. She was made to stay in a separate flat alone away from her husband in the city.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the victim woman. It has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Telangana calling for a detailed report including the status of the FIR registered in the matter within two weeks. The Commission would also like to know from the police authorities if there were any complaints from the people regarding harassment of women in the name of surrogacy in the State.

According to the media report, carried on 28^th November, 2024, the 25-year-old victim woman from Odisha died by committing suicide allegedly to escape sexual harassment by a man. The husband of the victim stayed nearby at a different accommodation along with a four-year-old son.

Reportedly, the woman had called up her husband over the phone on 26^th November, 2024 that she did not want to stay there and would end her life as the man was subjecting her to sexual harassment.

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NSK/VCK