The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of a complaint filed by Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh. The complaint alleges that Punjab Police personnel subjected a victim and his family members to assault, torture, and other serious human rights violations while in custody. According to the complaint, the victim was protesting by waving a black flag during a ‘Lok Milni’ (public interaction) program organized by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Sheron village, Sunam, Punjab, to highlight the issue of drug abuse. He was subsequently taken into police custody.
An NHRC bench, presided over by Hon’ble Member Priyank Kanoongo, has directed the Chief Secretary of Punjab, the Director General of Police (DGP), the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Sangrur, and the District Magistrate to conduct an immediate inquiry and submit a point-wise Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.
The Commission has directed that an immediate medico-legal examination of the victim be conducted and that the complete, unedited CCTV footage from the relevant police premises be preserved. It has also ordered the submission of a certified copy of the footage on a pen drive.
[Instructions to officials regarding] the FIR and records related to the custody, arrest, and interrogation…
