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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Torture a common probe tactic, activists say -Aniruddha Ghosal

Torture a common probe tactic, activists say -Aniruddha Ghosal

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published Published on Jun 16, 2013   modified Modified on Jun 16, 2013
-The Times of India


GHAZIABAD: Shaqueel's body was sent for postmortem by Ghaziabad police to ascertain the cause of death. A murder case has also been registered. Police sources say a preliminary examination of the autopsy suggests he was suffering from a chronic illness, which combined with the stress he was under after the arrest, had led to his death. Police say they will come down heavily on any official found guilty of torture. However, the frequency with which such cases are coming to the fore in Ghaziabad has raised serious questions about custodial deaths and violence.

According to lawyers and human rights activists, the problem lies with the use of torture as a common tool of investigation, instead of being employed in exceptional circumstances. "I think the number of people dying in police stations is on the rise, the NHRC and other legislations notwithstanding. Torture takes place when there are no witnesses around," said K T S Tulsi, senior advocate at the Supreme Court. Experts said torture serves as a shortcut for cops, who try to solve the crime by extracting confessions or clues by roughing up the suspects.

Police themselves admit that torture is quite common, especially in the far-flung, rural police stations away from the glare of the media. "Since the accused will admit anythig after a point, torture is commonly used," said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity.

In 1996, the SC, in a case titled DK Basu versus State of West Bengal, set up 11 guidelines for police personnel during detention or arrest. The guidelines, meant to bring transparency and prevent human rights violation, are rarely followed. The problem is rather pronounced in UP, where custodial violence and torture is pervasive. The state registered the maximum number of custodial deaths between April 2010 and March 2011, as per an NHRC report tabled in the Rajya Sabha in December 2011. A total of 331 people died while in custody. "Torture is conducted by police for two main reasons. They hope to obtain clues in the hope of solving the crime. Secondly, in cases where a confession made to police is acceptable in court, innocent people are often tortured to extract confessions," said Ashish Khetan, an independent reporter who has published an investigative report on the way custodial torture was used in the investigation of three major bomb blast cases to implicate Muslim youths, and has sent a letter petition to the Bombay high court on the issue.


The Times of India, 16 June, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Torture-a-common-probe-tactic-activists-say/articleshow/20610290.cms


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