New Delhi, October 10
Taking serious view of the brutal torture of minor children in third degree by the Crime and Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the Haryana Police at its Panchkula station as shown in a sting operation by a TV channel yesterday, the Supreme Court today issued notice to the Inspector General in-charge of the agency.
Though the apex court was closed for Puja holidays for a week, a Bench of Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice Arun Kumar heard the matter at the
residence of the former after it was raised in a PIL by advocate Aeltemaesh Rein.
Mr Rein said the brutality was seen to be believed as was beamed to the entire nation how the small children were being tortured by using the worst kind of third degree methods by the police.
Beating of a child, who was seen hanging from a rope with both hands tied behind the back was utterly disgraceful of the police of an independent country, he said.
As Mr Rein stated that such action of
police warranted issuance of “suo motu” order by the Court, the judges said they rarely have an opportunity to watch TV. Had they watched it some action would have been taken.
The notices were also issued to the SSP of CIA and the SHO in-charge of the Panchkula Police
station. The Court sought their replies by October 18, when it would resume function after the holidays.
The petitioner though had named Haryana Government, the State Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and DGP also as respondents, yet the Court refrained from issuing notices to them at this stage.
Rein said the police had behaved like the British police used to act. Such action of the police of an independent country raised doubt whether a common citizen, had any protection of the Constitution, which guaranteed the protection of their human rights.
This was a case of “gross violation” of human rights enshrined under Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution, he said seeking through probe into the matter and strict action against the guilty police officials.
