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INFO BY COUNTRY / INDIA / ORISSA
ACHR Index: IND/OR/07/03
2 July 2003

Mr. Justice A S Anand
Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
Sardar Patel Bhawan
Parliament Street
New Delhi-110001

Subject: Complaint against alleged suicide of juvenile delinquent, Sukant Das (14 years) while in police custody in Orissa on 24 June 2003

Dear Justice Anand,

I am writing to seek the intervention of the against alleged suicide of juvenile delinquent, Sukant Das (14 years) while in police custody in Orissa on 24 June 2003.

Mr Sukant Das was arrested in a theft case by Puri Ghat police on 23 June 2003. While he was being taken to Berhampur based juvenile home from Cuttack boarding Howrah-Chennai Mail, two constables belonging to Puri Ghat police station were guarding him on the train. After the train crossed Khurda railway station, the constables after tying up the hands of Mr Das with a rope, instructed him to sit on the upper berth. Later they had taken rest on the lower berth. Some passengers who were traveling on the same berth have informed that when Sukant Das sought their permission to go to the toilet, they reportedly misbehaved with him. After the train crossed the Tapang passenger halt, Sukanta jumped outside from the speeding train and died on the spot.

I shall be grateful if the NHRC could kindly intervene in the case by taking following measures:

1.      Direct the State government of Orissa to order an inquiry into the incident and report to the NHRC within four weeks to enable the NHRC;

2.      Direct the State government of Orissa to pay exemplary compensation, which the NHRC deems adequate, to the parents of Mr Sukant Das and that the same be recovered from the concerned police personnel; and

3.      Take any other measures that the NHRC deems fit.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely

 

Suhas Chakma
Director


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