Date:17/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121757560300.htm

Karnataka

‘Don’t subject accused to third-degree torture’

Staff Correspondent

Nayak says ‘colonial mindset’ has to change to tackle crime

About 6,000 cases of human rights violation received
KSHRC has disposed of 2,800 cases

S.R. Nayak

Chitradurga: Even police personnel who violate human rights should be prosecuted, said Chairman of the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) S.R. Nayak.

Mr. Nayak was addressing presspersons after holding a meeting with the district-level officials here on Tuesday. He said that after the inception of KSHRC, number of cases related to police atrocities have come down considerably though such incidents have not stopped.

The commission which was established last year has received about 6,000 cases of human rights violation, while it has taken up around 1,200 suo motu cases, nearly 2,800 cases had been disposed of. A number of cases were related to police atrocities and custodial torture, including some heinous crimes such as rape by police personnel inside the jail. He argued for a complete revamp of the system that is followed while dealing with criminals. He said that the police have to change their “colonial mindset” to tackle crime. “Subjecting the accused to third-degree torture should not be the only way to divulge information from him/her,” he said.

He stressed on the need to educate the police personnel on the significance of human rights. Mr. Nayak informed that the commission will hold workshops for police personnel of the State. Emphasising on the need to bridge the gap between the people and the police, he said the police should create an atmosphere where people should not fear going to the police station to register complaints. He also urged the government officials to exercise their discretionary powers to help the underprivileged people of the society.

He said the commission was finding it difficult to deal with the increasing number of cases received every day. He suggested that if the Government established agencies at the district level, then the burden on the commission would reduce.

He demanded the Government to provide a separate building, more staff with better infrastructure to run the institution.

In reply to a query, he asserted that the country has adequate laws related to human rights violation, but they need to be implemented properly.