The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, July 6, 2001, Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I N N E W S

Punish erring cops, Centre tells TN
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5
The Centre has directed the Tamil Nadu Government to “initiate proceedings against the erring police officers” for committing “high-handedness and human rights violations” against the two Central Ministers and DMK workers.

In a four-page warning letter issued late last night, the Union Home Ministry cautioned the Jayalalitha government that it would continue to maintain “close watch” on how it runs the administration.

Pointing out at the “excesses” committed by the Tamil Nadu police at the behest of the government against the Central Ministers, the Home Ministry wanted the state government to reassure the Centre of its continuing commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law as established by the Constitution.

“More specifically, the Government of India, would advise the state government to take steps, including the following to ensure that there is no recurrence of the unfortunate events of the past few days, under any circumstances,” the letter said.

The letter made it clear that proceedings should be initiated against the police officers who were responsible for committing high-handedness and human rights violations against various citizens in the state in general and the two Central Ministers in particular.

It directed that the DMK workers arrested in the wake of the arrest of Mr Karunanidhi, ostensibly to maintain public peace and order, should be released forthwith.

It also wanted that all curbs on the freedom of the Press and the electronic media should be withdrawn immediately and those responsible for imposing such curbs be proceeded against.

“The notice dated June 30, 2001, by the Commissioner of Police, Chennai, to Sun TV be revoked forthwith,” it said and directed that in future, no mediapersons discharging their professional duties should be arrested merely because they are covering important events.

TN DGP stands by his men

Chennai, July 5
Tamil Nadu DGP A. Ravindranath today virtually ruled out action against officials who allegedly assaulted and misbehaved with former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and two Union Ministers during their arrest last week saying that the Police Department would stand by them.

“Definitely, we well stand by the police officers,” he told reporters in response to a question on what action the department proposed to take in the wake of the Centre’s warning last night demanding such action.

The DGP hastened to add that it was too early to comment because he was yet to study in detail the warning issued by the Centre. “We have to study the proposal or the warning in detail before I can comment on it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Guindy, Mr Shanmuga Rajeshwaran, in a press note here denied he was present at former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s residence during the arrest and said he had only assisted the Crime Branch-CID police in the Velachery area.

The Tamil Nadu Government will consider taking action against erring police officials after examining the issue, state Chief Secretary P. Shankar said here.

Mr Shankar told reporters at the Chennai airport there was no time-frame in this regard.

He was responding to queries on the receipt of the communication to him from Union Home Secretary Kamal Pande warning the state administration to strictly adhere to constitutional norms and asking for action against police officials who arrested Union Ministers Murasoli Maran and T.R. Baalu on June 30. Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha, while ordering the withdrawal of the cases against the two Union Ministers, had also assured the police force that their interests would be protected by the state government and asked them to continue to discharge their duties without fear or favour. PTI, UNI