NHRC pulls up police for negligence

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, AUG. 23. Expressing anguish at the death of an undertrial due to police negligence, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Uttar Pradesh Government to pay Rs. 5 lakhs as immediate interim relief to the victim's family.

According to the complaint received by the Commission, Rajan Singh, who was detained in the Agra district prison, died while he was being taken to court along with 13 other undertrial prisoners. Another prisoner, Sanjay Tiwari, escaped.

In response to the notice, the Government sent a report stating Rajan Singh died when he tried to escape and there was no negligence on the part of the escort police.

The Commission, which did not accept the Government version, pointed out that the post-mortem report had clearly stated that the death was caused by shock and haemorrhage as a result of serious injuries. The magisterial report also stated that Rajan Singh had consumed liquor supplied by the police while in custody and quarrelled with them. It found fault with the police for being negligent in providing adequate escort to the prisoner.

The Commission held that the theory of attempted escape was a make-believe one resorted to by the Government. The injuries supposedly caused from a moving vehicle, particularly when there was no mention that Rajan Singh was prevented by anyone from jumping, could not be as serious and extensive as to have caused death.

Further, the half-hearted magisterial inquiry, which indicated that Rajan was administered liquor when he was in custody, pointed to the fact that he could have been subjected to severe beating in the police vehicle, the Commission said.

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Section  : National
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