Serving a notice to DGP Javeed Ahmad over the death of a rice mill owner due to alleged police torture in Rampur, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) instructed the top cop to file a detailed report within a month.
According to a communiqué released on Monday, the NHRC took suo-motu cognizance of media reports that rice mill owner Jalal Ahmed was allegedly tortured by the Rampur Police after he refused to cough up a bribe of Rs 1 lakh. The police had raided the mill premises alleging that illegal activities were being run from there.
The Commission observed that the contents of news reports, if true, indicate inhuman behaviour and abuse of power by police officials. It felt that the cops could have taken lawful action against any alleged illegal activity, instead of using excessive force as mentioned in the news reports. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the DGP, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks.
The news reports carried on July 25 mentioned that police personnel from Kemri police station of Rampur entered a rice mill owned by Jalal Ahmed and his brother Amir Ahmed. The cops alleged that illegal activities were being carried out from there and demanded Rs 1 lakh as ‘protection money’ from the mill owners, which they refused.
Thereafter, the cops allegedly started beating Jalal Ahmed with rifle butts, fists and boots as a result of which he started bleeding and fell down. After the cops left the place, the injured was taken to District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A murder case has already been registered by Rampur Police against the cops after local residents protested.
Meanwhile the NHRC also issued notice to the UP government over reported negligence of nurses resulting in the death of a new born in District Hospital at Mainpuri.
An NHRC communiqué released on Monday claimed to have taken suo-motu cognizance of a media report that a new born baby fell into a dustbin and died while nurses were quarrelling in the labour room of the hospital on July 25.
The expectant mother was taken to labour room around 8 pm when there was a change in the duties of nurses. While the nurses quarrelled as to who would take care of the delivery which could bring them soe fast bucks, the baby was born and fell from the table into a dustbin and died.
The Commission observed that the issue raises serious violation of right to life of the newly born and also indicate the insensitive and negligent behaviour of nurses of a government hospital, who are expected to take care of safety and well being of patients. Accordingly, a notice was issued to Principal Secretary, Medical Health and Family Welfare, calling for a report within four weeks.