NHRC DEMANDS ACTION ON COPS FOR TORTURE

The National Human Rights Commission has ordered the Warangal police commissionerate to inquire and take action against two sub-inspectors and constables working in the Subedari police station for allegedly locking up a youth and subjecting him to brutality.

It directed the authorities to take appropriate action against the officers within eight weeks.

The NHRC was responding to a complaint filed by social activist Thota Pavan, who runs an NGO, Youth for Swachh Warangal. Mr Pavan alleged that he was harassed by the police for taking up social causes, holding agitations against irregularities, and unearthing corruption by government officials and public representatives by filing complaints and RTI petitions. “I was warned by the Subedari police personnel to refrain from such activities many times. On March 1, I was called saying an FIR was registered under my name. When I went to the police station, I was dragged into a room on the first floor where the police stripped me and beat me up,” Mr Pavan alleged.

He alleged that the police personnel had abused him and his family. “They threatened my family members who came to take me from the police station. I have been staying in city since then out of fear,” he said. Mr Pavan participated in a TV debate at Warangal in May and posted on Facebook against a local MLA.

“I received calls from the associates of the MLA threatening me with dire consequences if I did not delete the post. Later I got threatening calls from the Subedari police too. So I complained to the NHRC that my right to free speech and expression, right to liberty were violated,” Mr Pavan said.