NHRC critical of police for 'major security lapse'

A fact-finding team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said that an assault on JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar in Patiala House Courts appeared to have been "organised and pre-planned", and was a major security lapse on the part of the police.

In its inquiry report submitted to the Commission, the team also said a statement issued as an appeal on behalf of Mr. Kumar was not written by him voluntarily.

"The content, construction and framework of the statement was as dictated by the police," it said.

The two-member team, which visited Tihar Central Jail where Mr. Kumar has been lodged on a 14-day judicial remand, said the student leader did not complain of any physical assault by the police while in custody.

"However, he was subjected to psychological pressure during interrogation," said the report.

"Going by the sequence of events, the safety and security of Mr. Kumar and his family members is a serious cause of concern."

A copy of the inquiry report submitted by the NHRC team has been forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, and the Director General of Prisons, Tihar Jail, for their comments.

Mr Kumar was arrested on the charges of sedition after allegedly raising anti-India slogans.

Date: 19 February 2016

Source: National Human Rights Commission of India