Torture in custody: NHRC issues notice to Assam CS, DGP

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Assam Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to submit a detailed report on the alleged torture of three women inside a police station in the state.

The human rights body has taken the suo motu cognisance of media reports that a woman and her two sisters were allegedly stripped and tortured inside a police station in Darrang district of Assam recently.

"Reportedly, the incident happened while they were being interrogated by the police in connection with a case of their brother, who had, allegedly, eloped with the girl of a different religion," a statement issued by the NHRC said on Wednesday.

"It is mentioned in the news report that the woman was 2 month pregnant and due to injuries the pregnancy had to be terminated," it said.

The Commission observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, raise serious issue of violation of human rights.

The Commission has asked the Chief Secretary and DGP to furnish the report within four weeks and said that the report must have medical treatment record of the victim and present status of her health condition.

The rights panel also wanted to know whether prior permission of the Judicial Magistrate was taken by the police to arrest the women victims during night of September 8, 2019.

"As reported in the media, the police authorities have violated Section 46(4) of the CrPC by picking up the women victims, after the sunset. The brother of the victims is reportedly wanted in a criminal case and not the victims. The police authorities had taken the victims in their custody, in an illegal manner," the NHRC observed.

It may be mentioned here that the Assam government had already suspended the office in charge of Burha police outpost and constable Nilima Boro for their involvement in torturing the three sisters. The Chief Minister had also ordered a probe into the allegations.

The three sisters alleged that they were picked up from their residence by the officer in-charge of Burha police outpost, on the night of September 8 and they were tortured inside the police station. Two policemen and a woman constable were reportedly involved in torturing them throughout the night asking the whereabouts of their brother. Later, one of the sisters, who was pregnant, was hospitalized and the doctors told her that her pregnancy is to be terminated.