Chennai

The inhuman treatment meted out by the inspector “cannot be tolerated”, said the commission. “It is to be mentioned that the gruesome act committed by the police is the worst example of cruelty and lawlessness amounting to violation of human rights of the complainant,” added D Jeyachandran, Judge, SHRC.

The commission also held that the complainant suffered humiliation, which amounted to violation of rights, personal liberty and dignity and was entitled to compensation. The State Government was asked to pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 within four weeks for the violation of human rights by the police officer, from whom the compensation would be recovered.

The complainant, D Lakshmanan, said the incident occurred near Kodungaiyur dump yard when he was returning home on his car with his family members (mostly women) at 10.15 pm on November 13, 2013. They were returning after attending a wedding at Valsaravakkam. The respondent Sampath, then the Inspector of P6 Kodungaiyur Police Station, was in an inebriated condition, obstructing the way and was about to fall on the car. 

When Lakshmanan applied the brake and advised Sampath to walk carefully, the latter got angry and banged on the car with his hands, and then attacked the complainant brutally and abused him. As he was not in uniform, the Lakshmanan did not realise Sampath was a police officer. Lakshmanan was the taken to the police station, where the attacks continued, he charged.

During the proceedings before SHRC, Sampath denied the allegations, stating that he was jogging when Lakshmanan drove rashly. However, the discharge summery revealed that Lakshmanan was attacked and had injury marks on his face and contusions on left shoulder, requiring treatment. 

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