Jharkhand High Court has asked the State Government to carry out extensive campaign to train the policemen on how to comply with the provisions of Juvenile Justice Act and Criminal Procedure Code.

The court was hearing a PIl initiated through its own motion on the basis of media reports where a minor girl was allegedly tortured in the police station in latehar for several hours during interrogation following which she became unconscious.

“It is a sensitive issue where both Juvenile Justice Act as well as CrPC has been violated. The State should consult Judicial Academy and plan an extensive awareness campaign to train the police officials on how to comply with the law during investigations,” said the Chief Justice.

The girl was later brought to RIMS, Ranchi, from latehar in a state of shock after being interrogated by local police allegedly for 10 hours in connection with the elopement of her friend regained consciousness and recalled her nightmarish experience.

The girl alleged that the ASI held her neck, punched her on the back and stomach and put something between her fingers to press them very hard, pushing her into an extreme state of depression.

The State submitted in the Court that Rs50,000 has already been paid to the father of the victim and an additional Rs10,000 has also been provided to him by the social welfare fund of Jharkhand Police. The victim has been admitted to Kasturba Gandhi Residential School, while the SI and the ASI, involved in the case, have been suspended, added the State counsel.