NHRC finds police guilty of violating human rights

OST Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Oct 2:

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has found police officials of the Jajpur town police station guilty of violating human rights for forcing three girls and as many boys to kneel down at a police station.

Civil rights activist advocate Prabir Kumar Das had filed the petition seeking action against the policemen in this case because their action constituted a violation of human rights as well as Article 21 and 19 of the Constitution.

The Commission has recommended compensation to the victims and action against the erring police officials.

Since it is sub judice, the victims can seek appropriate action against the erring police officials and also compensation from the High Court of Odisha, the commission stated.

In its judgment, the NHRC stated that “ Prima facie it appears from the report that six innocent young persons , who had broken no laws and caused no offence, were brought to the police station by a police officer who had arrogated to himself the right, which he does not have, to regulate social intercourse. This was high handed moral policing and attempting to justify it by invoking rapes perpetrated elsewhere is nonsensical.”

“The girls in question had expressed no fears about the boys in whose company they were. On the basis of this report, the commission would have recommended compensation for the boys and girls who were victimized and action against the police personnel involved,” it added.

“However , since a writ petition has been filed before the High Court in this matter and it is sub judice, the victims can seek appropriate action against the erring police officials and also compensation for them from the High Court of Odisha”, the Commission further stated in its judgement.