The National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and director general of police, seeking a factual report within two weeks on the sexual abuse and murder of children and women in Noida's Nithari village.
Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports, the commission directed that the clippings and recording of the reports be sent to the state chief secretary and DGP.
"If the contents of the reports are true, they reveal gross violation of human rights of the citizens and in particular, the children because of certain acts of omissions on the part of public servants, who did not take timely action in the matter," it said.
According to the reports, at least 38 children from Nithari village went missing over a period of 30 months, but only 19 police complaints were registered, though five of these 19 children returned home.
"The recent discovery of skeletal remains in the area suggest that more than those registered as missing have been killed," they added.
The reports said prime accused, employer-servant duo of Moninder Singh and Surender had confessed to sexual abuse, mutilation and killings of not only young boys and girls but also women, and dumping the remains of the victims in the drain behind the house.
"The barbaric act came to light not because the police were investigating the disappearance of children, but by sheer chance as they nabbed Surender who was in possession of a cell phone belonging to a missing woman Payal, who was also murdered," they said.
A newspaper editorial highlighted the negligence of the state administration, saying those who are guilty and responsible for such prolonged negligence of even routine investigation and civil function should be sacked.
Parents of several missing children have also approached the commission appealing for its intervention.