The Hindu : New Delhi News : Punishment to cops too harsh: Bihar panel

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Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007
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New Delhi

Punishment to cops too harsh: Bihar panel

Special Correspondent

“They were only partially responsible for Bhagalpur incident”

PATNA: A Bihar Legislative Council committee has reportedly rubbished the charge that the police tortured a petty thief at Nathnagar in Bhagalpur district two months ago.

(A PTI report said the panel, chaired by the CPI(M)’s Basudev Prasad Singh, felt that the punishment given to the two policemen amounted to a violation of human rights. “Though the committee did not find the policemen completely innocent, the punishment they got for the offence was too harsh.... we have not given them a clean chit but found them partially responsible for the torture of the youth,” Mr. Singh told PTI. He said the committee had recommended their reinstatement after a warning or, at the most, denial of an increment.)

The government has, however, made it clear that the unofficial statement made by members of the committee will not impact its investigations. The five-member Human Rights Committee of the Legislative Council is said to have submitted its report to the Chairman and it is likely to be tabled in the House in the next session. Usually the findings and recommendations of the committee are not made public until the report is tabled in the House, but this time the members have aired their views.

According to them, video footage of the alleged chain-snatcher being tied to a motorcycle and dragged by a policeman was incomplete. It did not show him sitting on the vehicle.

As the second constable was not seated when the motorcycle moved, the chain-snatcher fell and he was dragged.

The members were of the opinion that the two police personnel could in no way be held guilty as to invite punishment and suspension. They maintained that ASI L.B.Singh and constable R.Rai had reached the spot and saved the chain-snatcher’s life.

Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah said the government had not received the report. The government had nothing to do with what was being said unofficially.

The NHRC and the National Commission for Minorities have taken cognisance of the matter and asked the government to file an affidavit.

Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad expressed surprise at the findings, and said the government was trying to prove what the whole world saw for itself on news channels was wrong.

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