Another breaking of impunity in custodial death

Case Details of File Number: 1301/19/19/2014
Diary Number	148665/CR/2014
Name of the Complainant	LENIN RAGHUVANSHI, FOUNDER AND CEO
Address	PEOPLES VIGILANCE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS, SA 4/2 A, DAULATPUR,
	VARANASI , UTTAR PRADESH
Name of the Victim	HARJIT SINGH
Address	SULTANWIND,
	TARANTARAN , PUNJAB
Place of Incident	SULTANWIND
	TARANTARAN , PUNJAB
Date of Incident	8/31/2014
Direction issued by the Commission	These proceedings shall be read in continuation of earlier proceedings of the Commission dated 29.12.2016 vide which the DGP, Punjab, was directed to register the FIR under the appropriate Sections. The Principal Secretary, Department of Home, Government of Punjab, and the DGP, were directed to entrust the investigation of the case to the CBCID. The DGP, Punjab was directed to submit a report on any action taken against ASI Iqbal Singh. A notice U/S 18 (a) (i) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, was directed to be issued to the Government of Punjab, through its Chief Secretary, to show cause as to why the Commission should not recommend suitable compensation to the next of kin of the deceased. Pursuant to the directions of the Commission, the SSP, Tarn Taran, has submitted his report dated 19.03.2017, in which it is stated that during the inquiry conducted by the SP, Investigation, Tarn Taran, the father of the deceased Harjit Singh @ Honey got his statement recorded and stated that he has no suspicion regarding the death of his son as he was a drug addict and he committed suicide because of depression / mental tension occurred due to non-fulfillment of his lust of addiction. He has further stated that he does not want to take any action against any police official. The parents of the deceased produced their affidavits duly attested by the Executive Magistrate, Tarn Taran, regarding the same facts. It was revealed during inquiry that the deceased Harjit Singh @ Honey and Kallu were called at the Police Post in presence of parents of Harjit Singh regarding suspicion of theft and after formal inquiry both of them were handed over to the parents of Harjit Singh in fit physical condition. This fact is corroborated by the affidavits produced by the then DSP / SD / Tarn Taran. The parents of the deceased had never moved any complaint before any authority and even in the Court of Law. Had the parents of the deceased have any grievance, they could have adopted the legal recourse, but they did not do so till date. It is further stated that in compliance of the orders of the Hon’ble Commission a case FIR No. 53 dated 11.03.2017 has been registered U/S 323/342/306 IPC against SI Iqbal Singh, investigation of which is under progress. Copy of enquiry report is annexed with. The Commission has perused and considered the report as well as its annexures. As per the report the parents of the deceased stated before the enquiry officer that their son committed suicide as he was suffering from mental tension / depression due to non-fulfillment of his lust of addiction. They also produced the affidavits to this effect. A criminal case has been registered against SI Iqbal Singh. In these circumstances, the Commission is of the opinion that before proceeding further in the matter, it would be better to wait for the result of the investigation being conducted in this case. The DGP, Punjab, is directed to entrust the investigation of the case to the CBCID as directed by the Commission vide its proceedings dated 29.12.2016 and submit the result of investigation within six weeks.
Action Taken	Additional Information Called for (Dated 5/15/2017 )
Status on 6/28/2017	Response from concerned authority is awaited.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Detention Watch <pvchr.adv@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 3, 2014 at 11:11 AM
Subject: Urgent appeal on “Police torture over petty theft leads Punjab teen to commit suicide"
To: covdnhrc@nic.in
Cc: "Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi" <lenin@pvchr.asia>, Lenin Raghuvanshi <pvchr.india@gmail.com>

To,

The Chairperson                                                                                                                                        

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi.

Dear Sir, 

I want to bring your kind attention towards the news link of daily english news portal  "F.India/PTI'' on 01 September 2014, Amritsar edition regarding “Police torture over petty theft leads Punjab teen to commit suicide"(news clipping link & details annexed). 

http://www.firstpost.com/india/police-torture-petty-theft-leads-punjab-teen-commit-suicide-1691379.html 

Sep 1, 2014 14:47 IST

Amritsar: A teenager committed suicide here after being allegedly tortured by a cop for his "involvement" in a theft case.

Representational image. Agencies

Harjit Singh (15) committed suicide last night in Sultanwind village on the outskirts of the city, police said on Monday.

However, parents of the boy alleged that Harjit was whisked away by police for his alleged involvement in a theft case.

During two days of illegal confinement, he was allegedly inflicted inhuman torture, they alleged.

The moment he was let off by the police, he went to the fields in Sultanwind where he allegedly hanged himself from a tree and died on the spot, his parents alleged.

Police had tortured the boy for allegedly stealing a water pipe that was lying abandoned on roadside.

The parents of deceased demanded strict action besides registration of criminal case against police officials who were responsible for inflicting torture that led him to take extreme step of suicide.

The boy was allegedly tortured by a cop Iqbal Singh posted in the Tarn Taran police who detained him and tortured him mercilessly, the deceased's parents alleged.

Tarn Taran SSP Manmohan Sharma said that Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Iqbal Singh has been placed under suspension.

However, the autopsy of the boy will be conducted by the medical board to check the injury marks, Sharma said.

PTI

Therefore it is kind request please take appropriate action at earliest.

Thanking You, 

Sincerely Yours,

Lenin Raghuvanshi

Founder & CEO

Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights

SA 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi – 221002 (U.P)

Mobile No: +91- 9935599333

Email Id: pvchr.india@gmail.com , lenin@pvchr.asia