NHRC seeks FIR against officials for alleged assault on man in Punjab Police custody

New Delhi, Sep 6 (AHN) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the Punjab police personnel concerned over allegations of custodial assault, torture and other serious human rights violations against a man, panel member Priyank Kanoongo said on Sunday.

Taking cognisance of the alleged incident, the NHRC had earlier issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab, besides senior officials in Sangrur.

A Bench presided over by NHRC Member Kanoongo took cognisance of a complaint filed by Rajya Sabha member Tarun Chugh, alleging that Mohanjeet Singh was taken into police custody after he allegedly displayed a black flag during a “Lok Milni” programme at Village Sheron in Sunam on September 2.

Speaking to AHN, Kanoongo said: "We have taken cognisance of a complaint from Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh. The complaint mentions that during an official event attended by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a young man held a protest against the drug crisis in Punjab and attempted to display black flags to draw the Chief Minister's attention. The police took the young man into custody, assaulted him severely, subjected him to torture, and inflicted grievous injuries upon him."

"We have formally taken cognisance of this matter and issued notices to the DGP and the Chief Secretary, while instructing the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police to carry out a medico-legal examination of the victim and submit the report to the Commission. We have also instructed that CCTV recordings from the relevant police station be secured and a copy furnished to the Commission," he added.

He said that acting on the notices issued by the NHRC, the Punjab government held a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) responsible for the purported incident and has ordered his immediate transfer.

However, Kanoongo said: "Merely transferring a police officer is not a punishment. If someone has broken a law, action should be taken against him. Transfer is not a solution."

"We have sought the registration of an FIR," he added.