The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of a complaint alleging serious human rights violations by officials of Government Railway Police station, Ambala Cantonment. The allegations include illegal detention, custodial torture, physical assault, humiliation, extortion, criminal intimidation, and abuse of official authority. The commission has recommended that the matter be investigated through a high-level inquiry.
According to the complainant, he was summoned to the GRP police station in Ambala Cantonment on June 20 for questioning, despite there being no FIR, complaint, or incriminating material against him. He alleged that after an incident involving the theft of gold in another coach of the train in which he was travelling, he was called to the police station for questioning on June 20. Despite fully cooperating with the investigation and in the absence of any FIR, complaint, or incriminating evidence against him, he was ‘unlawfully detained’ at the police station.
The complainant further alleged that he was subjected to severe custodial torture using third-degree methods, physically assaulted, stripped, videographed in a naked condition, and threatened with false implication unless he paid ₹10 lakh. He also alleged that his mother was not allowed to meet him during the detention and that his mobile phone was unlawfully seized by the police. The complaint stated that he later underwent treatment at the Government Hospital in Bathinda for injuries allegedly sustained during the incident.
In an order dated July 1, Chairperson of the Haryana Human Rights Commission, Justice Lalit Batra, observed that the allegations contained in the complaint, if established, disclose a disturbing account of alleged custodial violence, illegal detention, abuse of police powers, extortion, and violation of the dignity of an individual. The Commission noted that Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution guarantee the protection of life, personal liberty, and legal rights. The HHRC directed the Director General of Police, Haryana, Panchkula, to ensure that the inquiry is conducted by an officer not below the rank of Inspector General of Police.
The inquiry shall specifically examine allegations of illegal detention, custodial torture, threats, and coercion and shall verify and preserve the CCTV footage of GRP police station at Ambala Cantonment for June 20. The Commission further directed that if the allegations are found to be true, responsibility shall be fixed on the concerned police officials, and an Action Taken Report, along with the findings of the inquiry, shall be submitted at least one week prior to the next date of hearing. The matter will next come up before the Full Commission on August 27.
