M A I N   N E W S

Police victim awaits relief
By Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH April 9 — For Daljit Rai Sharma, a resident of Gurdaspur, who was picked up by a party of the Punjab Police on November 1, 1997, on the charge of theft and subjected to torture later, and has been waging an incessant struggle for justice...which, he believes, “is some day sure to come.”

It is interesting, although the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), which looked into Mr Sharma’s case, in its July 21, 1999 order, directed a payment of Rs 15,000 as interim relief to him before November 25, 1999, it is yet to be released by the state government. With five months already gone by, sources in the Commission reveal that the matter will be brought to the notice of the High Court if the delay continues.

Another point under consideration of the commission is the promotion of the SI Jagjit Singh (the errant officer) to the post of Inspector, allegedly in violation of the Punjab Police Rules in the wake of criminal complaint pending against him in the court of Judicial Magistrate Balwinder Singh at Gurdaspur.

Talking to The Tribune, Commission member Mrs M.K. Mattewal said, “We have directed Inspector-General (Litigation) to appear in person on April 19 and explain the delay in the payment of money. We have asked him to get information on whether the Punjab Police considered Mr Sharma’s complaint while promoting Mr Jagjit Singh as an Inspector. “

Mr Sharma’s agony is written on the files moving before the Punjab State Human Rights Commission since December, 1998 when he made a petition to the Commission under the provisions of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. In his complaint submitted before the Commission, Mr Sharma stated that on November 1, 1997 he was picked up by a Gurdaspur police party headed by SHO Jagjit Singh in connection with theft of blankets in Egerton Woollen Mills, Dhariwal, where he was employed as Warehouse Manager. Mr Sharma alleged that he was taken to the police station and subjected to torture. “Following the maltreatment, I was kept in the Civil Hospital, Gurdaspur for six days. After that I was on bed rest for two months,” he stated.

For the Commission handling the case, the important task was to ensure whether Mr Sharma was actually tortured by the said SHO that day. Revealing details of the inquiry, Mrs M.K. Mattewal said, “The inquiry was marked to the Additional Director-General of Police, Internal Vigilance Cell who established the fact of torture in his report submitted to us.” From the medical records summoned from the Civil Hospital, Gurdaspur, it was further proved that Mr Sharma was advised bed rest for two months.

Following the inquiry report, the Commission bench consisting of members Mr Justice J.S. Sekhon and Mrs Mattewal ordered that a compensation of Rs 15,000 should be paid to Mr Sharma. Despite several directions from the Commission the amount is yet to be released. The order further required IG (Litigation) to direct the SSP, Gurdaspur to initiate departmental inquiry against Mr Jagjit Singh.