NHRC raps Uttar Pradesh police for Uttarakand violation

The National Human Rights Commission has pulled up the Uttar Pradesh police for its failure to identify four 'high-handed policemen' who injured an innocent women during the Uttarakand agitation.

"It seems the non-identification of the accused is deliberate and contrived," the Commission said in its order recommending a Rs 10,000 interim compensation to the victim, Ganeshi Devi

According to Devi's complaint, in April, 1994, the police had broken into her house, fired rubber bullets at her and tried to molest her daughter.

Had the police examined the victim as its (the NHRC's) investigator had done, they would have easily ascertained the identity of the policemen involved, the Commission noted.

Responding to the NHRC's notice, the Dehra Dun additional superintendent of police had reported the four police personnel were not traceable. This was followed by another report on January 2, 1995 saying no further action was being taken on the matter.

Finding the additional SP's report unsatisfactory, the Commission had called for a more comprehensive one from the senior superintendent of police.

However, the second report, too, claimed the police personnel were ''unknown.'' Neither the complainant nor witnesses, it said, knew the 'names and addresses' of the Lucknow police personnel!

Following this, the NHRC had sent a senior official to examine the petitioner.

The Commission, in its order, said though the police was unable -- perhaps unwilling -- to identify the accused, it was reasonable to hold she was entitled for compensation.

"This should not be the reaction of the police in a welfare state to the just grievance of a citizen," the Commission said.

UNI