Mr. Justice A S Anand
Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
Sardar Patel Bhawan
Parliament Street
New Delhi-110001
Subject: Complaint against
torture and custodial death of Mr Haliram Saikia at Lakhimpur
jail, Assam on 9 June 2003.
Dear Justice Anand,
I am writing to seek the
intervention of National Human Rights Commission against
the custodial death of Mr Haliram Saikia (29), a trader
by profession, at Lakhimpur jail on 9 June 2003.
Mr Saikia was in judicial
custody (GR No 629/03) on the fateful night of 9 June 2003
at Lakhimpur district of Assam. He was arrested on the complaint
filed by one Aarati Deka under section 457/380 of IPC on
alleged charges of dacoity.
Mr Haliram Saikia reportedly
subjected to torture and died in jail custody. The family
members of Haliram Saikia alleged the jail superintendent
had tortured the victim on behalf of the complainant, Aarati
Deka. The family members also alleged that after the post
mortem of the body, four vital organs of the body eyes,
kidney, tongue and the brain were missing. The family members
have also been denied a copy of the post mortem report.
I shall be grateful if the
NHRC could kindly intervene against the custodial death
of Mr Haliram Saikia and take the following measures:
-
Direct the State Government of Assam to conduct a
judicial inquiry into the custodial death of Mr Haliram
Saikia;
-
Direct the State government of Assam to immediately
suspend the jail superintendent of Lakhimpur jail;
-
Direct the State Government of Assam to provide a
copy of the most mortem report, which should have been conducted
in full conformity with the guidelines of the NHRC, to the
family members and the NHRC;
-
Direct the State Government of Assam to pay an interim
compensation of Rs 500,000 (five lakhs) to the victim's
family and the same be recovered from the guilty police
personnel and jail superintendent;
-
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