2 hrs ago
NHRC Seeks Punjab Report Over Alleged Sikh Custodial Torture
The National Human Rights Commission is investigating claims that police hurt a Sikh man in Punjab.
The man, Mohanjit Singh, said he was detained after protesting at a political programme.
He alleged that officers gave him electric shocks and harmed him in other ways.
A politician asked the commission to send an independent team to investigate.
The commission instead ordered local authorities to conduct an immediate inquiry and medical examination.
It also told them to save police CCTV footage and records.
Punjab Police has transferred some officers while the investigation proceeds.
The authorities must send the commission a detailed report within two weeks.
The commission has not yet announced whether the allegations are proven.
The National Human Rights Commission sought a report within two weeks on alleged custodial torture of Mohanjit Singh in Punjab’s Sangrur district.
Singh alleged police gave him electric shocks, pulled his beard, rubbed salt into wounds and tore his undergarment.
He said he was detained after showing a black flag at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s September 2 programme in protest against the drug menace.
The NHRC ordered an inquiry, medico-legal examination and preservation of unedited CCTV footage, police records and custody documents.
Punjab Police transferred a deputy superintendent of police and shifted three other officers to police lines amid political criticism.
- Who
- The National Human Rights Commission, Mohanjit Singh, Punjab authorities and police personnel are involved; BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh filed the complaint.
- What
- The NHRC took cognisance of allegations that Singh was tortured in police custody and ordered an inquiry and report.
- Where
- The alleged incident occurred in Sheron village and the concerned police station in Punjab’s Sangrur district.
- When
- The alleged detention followed a September 2 programme; the NHRC action was reported on September 5, with a report due within two weeks.
- Why
- Singh allegedly protested the Aam Aadmi Party government’s handling of Punjab’s drug menace by showing a black flag at Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s programme.
Critics and Complainant
Authorities’ Procedural Response
Whether transfers are enough
Critics and Complainant
Tarun Chugh said transferring the DSP was insufficient and called for accountability for anyone responsible for custodial brutality.
Authorities’ Procedural Response
Punjab Police transferred the DSP and shifted three other officers, while the NHRC ordered an inquiry to establish the facts.
How the allegations should be investigated
Critics and Complainant
Chugh had urged the NHRC to send an independent fact-finding team to Sheron village and the police station.
Authorities’ Procedural Response
The NHRC directed Punjab authorities to conduct an immediate inquiry, obtain a medico-legal examination and preserve CCTV and police records.
Key facts
- NHRC deadline
- Authorities must submit a point-wise action taken report within two weeks.
- Alleged victim
- Mohanjit Singh, a resident of Sheron village.
- Alleged treatment
- Singh claimed he was given electric shocks, had his beard pulled, had salt rubbed into his wounds and had his undergarment torn.
- NHRC orders
- An immediate inquiry, medico-legal examination and preservation of complete, unedited CCTV footage.
- Required records
- Authorities must provide the FIR, custody records, details of connected police personnel and an authenticated CCTV copy on a pen drive.
- Police action
- Sangrur rural Deputy Superintendent of Police Harvinder Singh was transferred, and three other officers were shifted to police lines.
Quotes
Tarun Chugh
BJP Rajya Sabha MP representing Madhya Pradesh who filed the NHRC complaint
“A transfer is not accountability. The NHRC’s intervention must now ensure that the truth comes out and every person found responsible for custodial brutality is held strictly accountable.”
theprint.in
“This comes even as CM @BhagwantMann has merely transferred the DSP involved in the matter, which is nothing but a mere attempt to sweep the matter under the carpet.”
theprint.in
Sources
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