Human rights team visiting Bhagalpur to probe police torture

Patna, Aug 30 (IANS) A National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) team is visiting Bhagalpur district Thursday to probe the brutal torture by police of an alleged chain-snatcher at Nathnagar in the district.

"The NHRC team will hold talks with Bhagalpur district administration officials, policemen, locals and also the victim to prepare a report," a senior district official said.

Two days after taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, the NHRC issued notice to the Bihar home department to produce a report on the incident. Its visit assumes significance as the commission views the incident as a serious violation of human rights by the policemen.

On Monday, Aurangzeb, a man in his early 20s, was thrashed and brutally tortured by police at Nathnagar. TV footage showed a cop dragging him through the street tied to the back of a motorcycle. He was hospitalised in a critical condition. His condition has improved Thursday, according to officials.

The incident triggered protests and violent clashes in Nathnagar. The situation turned tense Tuesday after an angry crowd threw stones at a police station following rumours that the man had died due to the torture. Some anti-socials tried to give a communal twist to the incident, but the local administration controlled the situation.

A case was lodged against the police who tortured Aurangzeb. A senior official in the state police headquarters here said a complaint has been registered against the erring policemen and they have been issued a show cause notice. The accused cops, Ramchandra Rai and L.B. Singh, were suspended on Tuesday.

"If a policeman doesn't respect the people, he has no right to hold the post," said State Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah.

"The chief minister has ordered a probe into the incident and the Bhagalpur district superintendent of police has been asked to conduct the probe," Amanullah said.

Bihar police spokesperson Inspector General Anil Sinha said action had been taken against the accused and the officer-in-charge of Nathnagar police station had been asked to submit a report soon.

But Sinha tried to downplay the incident, alleging that Aurangzeb had a criminal background. "There were criminal cases lodged against him. He was a known criminal in the area," Sinha said.

Monday's incident has come as an embarrassment for the state government.

Human rights organisations have condemned the incident and demanded immediate action against the policemen.

NHRC to 'investigate' Gurgaon foeticides

New Delhi, June 18 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Monday said it would send a team to Gurgaon to conduct an inquiry into the over 250 illegal abortions carried out by a quack there.

"The National Human Rights Commission will be sending an investigation team to Pataudi town of Gurgaon district in Haryana where half burnt foetuses were recovered from a well near a nursing home," the commission stated Monday.

"The investigation team will conduct an on-the-spot inquiry and submit a report within two weeks," it added.

The Commission has also asked the chief secretary and director general of police of Haryana to submit a report within four weeks.

A.K. Singh, the owner of Buala Nursing Home in Pataudi of Gurgaon district was arrested Thursday after the police raided his clinic and discovered foetuses dumped in a sewage tank.

The accused confessed to have aborted more than 250 female foetuses and has lost count of the total, Ramphal Singh, the station house officer at Pataudi police station, had earlier said.

"He said he has been in this profession for 15 years and charged Rs.1,000 to 1,500 from each client. After aborting the foetuses, he used to dump the undeveloped body parts into the sewage tank," Ramphal Singh had told IANS.

The commission's decision came after it took suo-motu cognisance of media reports. It has also taken note of the clinic's alleged involvement in sex determination tests and female foeticide for years.