NHRC issues notice to UP government on death of Dalit man in custody

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over the custodial death of a 30-year-old Dalit man in Amroha district, officials said.

Taking suo motu cognizance of media reports that a man was arrested by the police on December 23 and that he died in police custody at Dhanora Mandi police station, the human rights panel has given the state government, the chief secretary, director general of police (DGP) four weeks to explain in detail about the incident.

The man was arrested on charges of theft and the family alleged that the police had demanded Rs. 5 lakh as bribe to let him off. Failure to do so led to his custodial death, the family said.

"The Commission has observed that the contents of media reports, if true, amount to gross violation of human rights of the victim," the notice said.

The NHRC has also asked the state government for an explanation as to why the mandatory intimation with regard to this death in police custody has not been given to the NHRC in pursuance of its guidelines on the subject.

The report should also indicate whether any monetary and other relief has been provided to the family in accordance with the SC/ST (POA) Act and Rules, the notice said.

The state government has so far suspended 11 police personnel, including the SHO of the police station concerned.

--IANS

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