Date:25/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/25/stories/2004122511631300.htm

National

Raids on cyber cafes: NHRC questions police conduct

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 24. Taking suo motu cognisance of reports in the print and electronic media of the alleged high-handed behaviour of the police during recent raids on cyber cafes in Aligarh, the National Human Rights Commission has asked the Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police of Uttar Pradesh to send their comments within two weeks.

The print media published a news report on December 23 stating that the Uttar Pradesh police had humiliated some youngsters in cyber cafes in Aligarh. When one teenaged girl "resisted" the police, the men in uniform "went berserk". "A senior officer reportedly warned the girl, "Do not lose your temper or you will lose a great deal more," the report said.

The electronic media reported that the police told the girl, "you are ashamed now but didn't you feel the same way when you decided to bunk school and spend time with your boyfriend?" From the video clips, it was found that no women police were present during the raids, which involved a number of girl students; the remarks by constables seemed to be inappropriate and especially some of the remarks made by the police to the girl students were "taunting and suggestive".

One of the clips shows a girl being pulled out by the police by her hair and forced to stand in front of the television camera.

The anchor in the studio wrapped up the news story with the observation that the Senior Superintendent of Police, Aligarh, was asked whether the raids had yielded any result but he declined to comment.