Pramesh S Jain & Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
The State Human Rights Commission on Friday raided Amruthahalli police station and rescued a 36-year-old suspect who had been detained illegally by the police for the last nine days .
The police team had violated many rules while carrying out the detention and not informed their higher ups which is mandatory for them as per the Standard Operating Procedure .
This may attract criminal and disciplinary proceedings against the erring officials apart from the compensation to the victim .
Probe revealed that a team of police,went to Mumbai by flight to secure Aslam Khan,from a hotel where he was working.
Aslam was involved in a theft case three years ago and arrested and jailed.After coming out on bail,Aslam jumped bail and went to Mumbai to start working while his wife and children living in Tumakuru.
The police on February 1 went to Mumbai by flight and got him back.The police team neither inform the DCP not the commissioner about the arrest.
They had not even informed the airlines while escorting the suspect back to Bengaluru which is mandatory , sources in the department, said .
After getting him to Bengaluru the police had to record about the arrest in the station house dairy and produce him before the magistrate,which has not been done.
The police had to inform the family about the arrest , which they failed to do.
The police kept the suspect illegally and tortured him along with another suspect identified as Mahesh, from Hubballi was detained in different case.
The duo was reprotedly tortured many days and allegedly demanding bribe for their release .
The incident came to light when,Abdul Majeed,a city based advocate went to the station for an official work and found the duo in the cell .
Aslam communicated with Mr.Majeed non verbally and shared the contact number of his family by sign language.
Suspecting something fishy, Mr.Majeed took down the phone number and informed Aslam’s wife about the arrest.Shocked wife called up the same police station for cross check.
The police came to know that it was the advocate who is creating trouble and started harassing him,following which Mr.Majeed, accompanied by one of the family member,Mohammed K,rushed to State Human Right Commission and filed a complaint.
Based on the complaint,a team of official led by Deputy Superintendent of Police,Sudheer Hegde,raided the station and rescued Aslam and other person,before issuing notice to the police seeking explanation.
Though the police claimed that they had executed the pending warrant against Aslam,the police had violated many rules and procedures laid down.
The police is also seeking the CCTV footage at the station when the police dispute that Aslam was detained for many days.
Based on the statement by the police and proceedings carried out by the Justice, L Narayanaswamy,chairman of the SHRC,further action will be initiated against the accused officials which may includes charging the officials under section 384 ( wrongful confinement ) against them apart from other punitive actions.
The SHRC police wing has stepped up vigil to check violations of human rights by the enforcement agencies and conducting surprise inspections,raids for any illegal detention of any person for more than 24 hours without FIR.
