Attack on Kanhaiya seems planned: National Human Rights Commission

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) panel, visited the Tihar jail on Thursday to meet Kanhaiya. In its report to the rights body, the panel said that Kanhaiya Kumar was subjected to psychological pressure and was made to issue a statement before he appeared in the court, owing allegiance to the Constitution which was dictated by police. 

“Kanhaiya Kumar was abused and physically assaulted by some persons dressed as advocates in the Patiala House court premises on February 17. He was even physically assaulted inside the adjoining court room in the presence of police who did not do anything to prevent the assault or apprehend the attackers even though they were identified by Kanhaiya Kumar then and there. The physical assault on Kumar in the court premises appears to be organised and pre-planned,” the report submitted to the NHRC by its fact-finding panel said. 

On February 18, the Acting Chairperson, NHRC, directed that a team comprising CK Chaturvedi, Registrar (Law) and SK Jain, SSP (Investigation) to visit Central Prison, Tihar, and inquire into the several important issues pertaining to Kanhaiya Kumar. 

In its report the panel said “The statement which was issued by the police as an appeal on behalf of Kanhaiya Kumar was not written by him voluntarily. The content, construction and framework of the statement were as dictated by the police.’’ 

The committee also added “What happened in the Patiala House Court Complex on February 17 was a major security lapse on the part of the police. Going by the sequence of events, the safety and security of Kanhaiya and his family members is a serious cause of concern”. 

A copy of the inquiry report submitted by the NHRC team has been forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, and the Director General of Prisons, Tihar Jail, for their comments, to be received by the commission before February 26.