New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging excessive use of force by the Uttar Pradesh Police during a protest in Meerut demanding justice in the Lalita Gautam murder case.

A Bench presided over by NHRC Member Priyank Kanoongo has issued notices to the Home Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP), Uttar Pradesh, directing them to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 15 days.

The action has been initiated under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which empowers the Commission to inquire into alleged violations of human rights.

The complaint, filed by Dr Ambedkar Jan Kalyan Samiti, Bhopal, alleged that the local police resorted to an unprovoked and brutal lathi-charge during a peaceful public demonstration in Meerut, causing serious injuries to several protesters.

It further alleged that widely circulated videos showed senior police officials assaulting individuals who had already been taken into custody, amounting to custodial torture and a serious violation of personal dignity and the rule of law.

The complainant sought the NHRC’s intervention, requesting that the Uttar Pradesh government be directed to submit a comprehensive report, conduct an independent inquiry into the alleged use of force, verify the authenticity of the viral videos to fix individual accountability, provide medical rehabilitation and statutory compensation to the injured victims, and initiate criminal as well as departmental proceedings against the police personnel found responsible.

After examining the complaint, the apex human rights body observed that the allegations made therein prima facie appear to involve violations of the human rights of the victims.

Accordingly, the NHRC directed the Home Secretary and the DGP, Uttar Pradesh, to submit a detailed Action Taken Report within the stipulated period for its consideration. It also directed that a copy of the proceedings be forwarded to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary to ensure necessary compliance in the matter.

–IANS

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