Punjab Police officials fined for torture

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Punjab Police officials fined for torture
10 October, 2006

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 each on two assistant sub-inspectors (ASI) of Punjab police for wrongfully detaining a young man and subjecting him to torture.

Justice Surya Kant ordered the two police officials namely ASIs Surinder Singh and Manjeet Singh of sub-divisional police headquarters and police station, city, Abohar in Ferozepur district respectively, to deposit the sum with the authorities within two months.

The orders were passed after hearing the petition preferred under the Contempt of Court Act for violating the directions of the Supreme Court.

The petiton was filed in the High Court by Ashok Kumar, father of the victim, who said his son had been arrested by the police on August 22, 2004 and subjected to sustained torture over the period after implicating him in a false case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

In his report, the Chief Judical Magistrate categorically asserted that it was a case where the police was clearly on the wrong side of the law. The report also confirmed torture. The Chief Judicial Magistrate was also informed by the state police headquarters that departmental action against the two police officials was underway.

Since the drug case was found to be false, the police in the intervening period also cancelled the FIR pertaining to the case.

The petitioner pointed out that the police officials, Surinder Singh and Manjeet Singh were guilty of contempt of court as not only had they handcuffed the alleged accused but also not followed the directions of the apex court wherein access to the lawyers of the accused was made mandatory besides restraining the police from handcuffing the accused unless it involved high risk of security.

Holding the two police officials guilty of the contempt of court in violating the directions of the Supreme Court, Justice Surya Kant disposed of the petition with directions to the respondents to pay up the fine.