NHRC seeks report from Delhi Police on beating of auto-driver

National Human Rights Commission today issued a notice to Delhi Police over alleged beating of an auto-rickshaw driver by a constable in North-East Delhi's Seelampur area.
According to an NHRC statement issued today, the rights panel has issued notices to the Delhi Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-East Delhi) asking them to submit reports within two weeks into the alleged severe beating of an auto-rickshaw driver, Chand Mohammad, by a constable and his associates of Seelampur Police Station on July 31.
The notices where issued after NHRC took suo-motu cognizance of a media report about the incident.
The police personnel also allegedly snatched Rs 10,000 from Mohammad. The victim of police atrocity was taken to Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital by his friends from where he was referred to the Lok Nayak Jayprakash Narayan for medical treatment of grievous injuries, the statement said.

According to the media report, some people were playing cards on a footpath in Seelampur. But they ran away when they saw a police constable and his associate approaching them. But the victim, who was a bystander, was caught by the police personnel. Despite his denial that he was not playing cards, the police personnel did not listen to him and demanded money.
On his refusal, they took him to Seelampur Police Station where he was allegedly mercilessly beaten up. They also snatched Rs 10,000 from him, which he was carrying to repay the installment of his auto-rickshaw loan.

He was released only when his friends reached at the Police Station who subsequently took him to hospital in a bad condition, the statement said.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim.
It has also asked the senior police officers to inform about the status of health of victim and legal/disciplinary action, if any, taken against the delinquent police official.