Chennai: The State Human Rights Commission directed four policemen in Kanyakumari district to pay compensation of Rs 1 lakh to a social activist for harassing him in police custody. Police foisted a case against him six years ago on the instigation of local leader and officials.
In the petition, A, Raghu of Marthandapuram, Kanyakumari submitted that he is a businessman and also a social worker.
He was threatened by Muthukumaran, SI, Perumal, special SI, David Jayasekaran, special SI, and Kalyanasundaram, head constable of Anjugramam police Station, Kanyakumari district. They were angry as he questioned some local officials. Raghu filed a complaint against them in September 2013. In turn on October 4, 2013, Jayaboobathy lodged a false complaint against Raghu on charges of harassment. Police registered a case against Raghu without a proper enquiry. On October 9, 2013 he was arrested and tied with a chain attached to handcuffs. Police abused him and detained him in a room. He was not given food and water. Later, he was remanded to judicial custody.
When Raghu was produced before the Judicial Magistrate Nagercoil III, he developed chest pain and was admitted as an inpatient at the government hospital at Asaripallam. Raghu petitioned the Commission to take action against police for registering a false complaint, abusing and handcuffing him.
In their reply, Muthukumaran, Perumal, David Jayasekaran and Kalyanasundaram denied the allegations. They stated tht Raghu used to threaten government officials and public servants and was in the habit of filing false cases against police officials and others who did not heed his requests.
SHRC member Dr A. Chittaranjan Mohandoss, a retired IAS officer, said that the commission held that all the policemen had committed violations of human rights against Raghu. Citing the guidelines of the Supreme Court, he stated that police and jail authorities shall have no authority to direct the handcuffing of any inmate of a jail in the country or during transport from one jail to another or from jail to court and back. The petitioner was entitled to receive a compensation of Rs 1 lakh from the policemen.
The Commission recommended the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Home Department, to take disciplinary action against the policemen for misusing their powers.
