Chandigarh, Sep 5 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh alleging custodial assault, torture and other serious human-rights violations against a victim and members of his family by Punjab Police personnel.
As per the complaint, the victim was protesting against the issue of drug abuse in Punjab during Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s “Lok Milni” programme at Sheron village in Sunam by displaying a black flag as a mark of protest. He was thereafter allegedly taken into police custody.
The matter was considered by the NHRC Bench presided over by its member Priyank Kanoongo, which directed the Chief Secretary, the DGP, the Superintendent of Police of Sangrur and the District Magistrate of Sangrur to conduct an immediate inquiry and submit a point-wise action taken report within two weeks.
The Bench has directed an immediate medico-legal examination of the victim, preservation of complete and unedited CCTV footage of the concerned police premises and submission of an authenticated copy in a pen drive.
The authorities have also been directed to furnish the FIR and custody records, details of all police personnel connected with the detention/ interrogation, and a report on the allegations concerning the victim’s family members.
The commission has further directed that all medical records, CCTV footage, police records, electronic data and other material evidence connected with the incident be immediately secured and preserved.
Earlier, Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon condemned the alleged police torture of the youth, who had raised the issue of drugs in Punjab directly before the Chief Minister.
Dhillon also spoke to the victim over a video call, enquired about his well-being and encouraged him for raising his voice to protect the youth from drugs. He said the BJP “stands firmly with him in this difficult hour and that every possible effort would be made to ensure justice for him”.
–IANS
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