TN Govt should act against delinquent cops: NHRC

National Human Rights Commission today directed Tamil Nadu government to take action against delinquent police officers and pay Rs 15,000 as relief in an alleged case of custodial torture.

According to an NHRC statement released today, the Commission has directed Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to take appropriate action against such officers and pay monetary relief of Rs 15,000 to the victim.

The Commission has also asked for a compliance report along with a proof of payment within six weeks.

NHRC had registered the case in 2010 on the basis of a complaint from the victim alleging that Tamil Nadu Police had falsely implicated a person, arrested and subjected him to severe physical torture in custody after he had filed a complaint against the police with NHRC.

The Commission, on the basis of the material on record provided by the state authorities concerned in response to its notices, found that two cases were registered against the complainant and his colleague under different sections of IPC and the charge sheets were filed in the court.

"Therefore, it observed that the correctness or otherwise of these cases is to be decided only by the court," the statement said.

However, from human rights point of view, the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu was asked to submit reports regarding the victim's torture in police custody.

Subsequently, the Commission, after careful consideration of the material on record, found that the complainant was tortured during his police custody remand and a case of breach of human rights was made out.

Therefore, it recommended that the Tamil Nadu government pay monetary relief to the victim and take appropriate action against the delinquent police officers.