Telangana: Police handcuff minor, get stick
Hyderabad: A 14-year-old boy was handcuffed by two escort constables at a public place at Jogipet in Medak on Thursday. The constables were taking the teen to a Nizamabad correctional home from the Sangareddy court in a bus.
Child rights groups have approached senior officials seeking action against the constables. Under the Juvenile Justice Act, a minor should not be handcuffed at any time. The minor should also not be exposed in public as a criminal, the activists said.
Responding to the issue, Medak SP B. Sumathi said the two constable had been issued memos. The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has sought strict action against the constables.
Eyewitnesses said the teen was brought to the juvenile court regarding a case he was involved in. After he was produced in court, the constables handcuffed him and took him to a bus. The handcuff remained on his hands even as he sat in the bus.
Panel faults cops for handcuffing minor
Members of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights said that as per the law, no officer in uniform should accompany a minor.
Medak police officials said that a 14-year-old boy who was handcuffed by two escort constables at a public place at Jogipet in Medak was sent to correctional home after he was caught in an alleged theft case.
Sources from the district police said the escort constabls were being extra cautious following the escape of a gang of robbers when they were being produced in court last month, a Medak police officer said.