Asian Centre for Human Rights

Subject: Complaint against illegal detention and torture of 25-year-old youth, Radhe Singh of Bapu Nagar, Kotra Sultanabad, Madhya Pradesh in the police custody at Kamla Nagar police on 30 June 2003.

Dear Justice Anand,

I am writing to seek intervention of the National Human Rights Commission against the illegal detention and torture of 25-year-old youth, Radhe Singh of Bapu Nagar, Kotra Sultanabad, Madhya Pradesh in the police custody at Kamla Nagar police on 30 June 2003.

On the night of 29 June 2003, Mr Radhe Singh came to know that police personnel were searching for him. He voluntarily reached the Kamla Nagar police station at around 11.30 pm on 29 June 2003.

As soon as he reached there, head constable Udayvir Singh, Sub-Inspector V D Mishra and Station in charge Purendra Singh started beating him with lathis. People of the locality watched it. Mr Radhe Singh sustained fracture in both the arms. Ultimately, when he became unconscious due to the beating, he was thrown out of the police station.

Mr Singh reportedly has no criminal background and the police personnel registered a false criminal case against him.

I shall be grateful if the NHRC could kindly make an urgent intervention and take the following measures:

- Direct the State government of Madhya Pradesh to register a criminal case against constable Udayvir Singh, Sub-Inspector V D Mishra and Station in charge, Purendra Singh for illegal confinement and torture of Mr Radhe Singh and suspend all of them with immediate effect;

- Direct the State government of Madhya Pradesh to pay an interim compensation of Rs 100,000 (one lakh) to Mr Radhe Singh and that the same be recovered from the guilty police personnel;

- Direct the Government of India to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and

- Take any other measures that the NHRC deems fit.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely

Suhas Chakma
Director