Notice to Tamil Nadu over illegal detention, torture of juvenile

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to Tamil Nadu over the illegal detention and torture of a juvenile belonging to Kuravar community by the state police, a statement said on Tuesday.

Taking cognizance of the issue, the commission has said that the 17-year-old boy and two of his family members were detained in connection with a burglary and were tortured in the most inhumane way, purportedly on the ground that they belonged to a tribe dubbed by the British as criminals under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871.

The law is extinct now but presumably the mind sets remain unchanged as the boy is learning what it meant to be born a Kuravar, it said.

According to the commission, it was observed that no human being should be subjected to discrimination merely on the fact that he belongs to a particular caste, creed or community.

The juvenile was reportedly, released when his family intervened to convenience the police that he was just 17 years of age.

"The incident, alleging illegal detention of a young boy, physical torture of the family members and atrocities committed by the police personnel, indicates towards violation of human right to life, liberty and dignity of the victims," said the Commission, adding it has accordingly issued a notice to the Government of Tamil Nadu through its Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, calling for a detailed report, including the action if any, taken against the erring police personnel, within four weeks.

--IANS

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