Karnataka - Hassan   

Work responsibly, police told

HASSAN: Judicial Magistrate (Senior Division) V.S. Sharada has regretted that the police violate human rights on many occasions, thereby making innocent people suffer.

Inaugurating a workshop on the protection of human rights at Holenarsipur on Monday, Ms. Sharada said personnel at the police station should behave more humanely with people. The workshop was attended by officials from the Police Department.

She quoted two incidents that were clear instances of rights violation on the part of the police. In the first case, she said she herself went to a police station to lodge a complaint, but the assistant sub-inspector on duty behaved rudely with her and even threatened her.

In the second incident, some prominent people staying in the Inspection Bungalow accused an orderly of stealing their cellphone. On an oral complaint by the individual, the police took the worker to the station and beat him up mercilessly. In fact, the person had not stolen the cellphone. The complainant later found it in the bathroom. Ms. Sharada said she was a witness to both incidents and advised the police to be aware of the fact that the people’s rights needed to be protected. She asked them to work responsibly and not harass people.

Ms. Sharada said the police should be aware of the guidelines issued by courts with regard to rights protection. The Supreme Court had issued 11 guidelines which should be displayed at all police stations. “When you receive a complaint, provide an acknowledgement on the carbon copy. If the person is poor, help him/her get legal assistance,” she said. She quoted instances where the courts had imposed fine and imprisoned police officials for violation of human rights.

Superintendent of Police K.V. Sharatchandra said the very decision to refuse registration of a complaint constituted a human rights violation. “Behave courteously with the people, otherwise you will not be respected,” he added.

Assistant public prosecutor Manjunath, Deputy Superintendent of Police Parashuram and inspector T.B. Sathyanna Reddy spoke.

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