New Delhi, September 3: National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar has called for the strictest punishment for those accused of sexually assaulting a minor inside a moving sleeper bus in Greater Noida, saying swift and stringent action could deter others from committing similar offences.

A 16-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped inside an empty sleeper bus by its driver and conductor in Greater Noida earlier this month, police said. Both accused have been arrested in connection with the case.

Condemning the incident, Rahatkar said the police should be given adequate time to complete their investigation but stressed that the accused must face strict punishment at the earliest.

“The police are investigating the incident. We need to give them some time. Strict punishment should be given to the accused at the earliest, which can serve as a deterrent for the future, so that no one can even think of committing such an offence,” she said.

Rahatkar also underlined the role of society in ensuring the safety of women and children, saying that legal and administrative mechanisms alone cannot address the problem.

“There is law and order for the proper functioning of the state, and there is also a government system in place. But, having said that, society’s mindset also needs to undergo a drastic change,” she said.

The NCW Chairperson stressed that society must work in coordination with law-enforcement agencies and the administration instead of placing the entire responsibility for preventing such crimes on the legal system.

“Accused who commit such offences should face the pressure of exclusion from society; only then might they be deterred from indulging in such acts,” she added.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of reports that the minor was allegedly gang-raped inside a moving sleeper bus in Greater Noida on August 4.

The NHRC said that, if true, the allegations raise serious concerns over human rights violations. It has issued notices to the Police Commissioners of Delhi and Gautam Budh Nagar, as well as the Superintendent of Police, Mainpuri, seeking detailed reports within two weeks.

The commission has asked the authorities to provide details of the investigation and disclose whether any compensation has been paid to the victim.

According to a media report published on August 31, the girl, who is a resident of Mainpuri, had left home to visit her cousin in Noida's Sector 63. She reportedly missed her stop and got down at Pari Chowk amid heavy rain and darkness.

She later boarded a sleeper bus after its conductor allegedly told her that the vehicle was headed towards Sector 63. The alleged assault took place inside the bus