NHRC notice to the DGP, Uttar Pradesh over reported brutal assault of a TV journalist by GRP personnel in Shamli district (14.06.2019)

New Delhi, 14th June, 2019

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that just a few hours after the Supreme Court ordered the release of a journalist, another TV journalist in the West Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district was brutally assaulted by the SHO of the Government Railway Police, GRP on Tuesday, 11th June, 2019 night. He along with and a constable was booked and suspended after videos of the attack went viral the next day. Reportedly, a group of reporters assembled in the Manipur area where two bogies of a goods train had derailed in the night. An argument took place between the journalists and the police personnel. The victim was then thrashed and dragged to the local GRP police station where he was locked up. The victim has claimed that he was stripped and the SHO urinated in his mouth.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, amount to gross violation of the victim. Going by the reported allegations, this kind of cruel and uncivilized act by a public servant is highly disgraceful and cannot be tolerated in a civilized society. Stern action should be taken against the police personnel, if found guilty so that such barbaric act is not repeated by any public servant, in future.

The Commission has issued a notice to the Director General of Police, Uttar Pradesh calling for a detailed report in the matter including action taken against the guilty public servants and status of the FIR Registered against them. The response is expected within four weeks.

According to the media reports, carried on the 13th June, 2019, the SHO could be seen attacking the journalist in the video clips. The victim has reportedly alleged that the police personnel attacked him out of vengeance as he had run a story about an encroachment by unauthorized vendors in connivance with GRP personnel, last month.

Reportedly, an FIR based on the complaint of the journalist has been registered and departmental inquiry under supervision of the IG Railways, has also been ordered.

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