New Delhi, 5th February, 2013
The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to DIG, Meerut, calling for a report on a complaint quoting media reports that Police personnel of Daurala Police Station in Western U.P. beat a foreign national of Vietnamese origin along with his Indian friend for no fault. They were also forced to tender a written apology for being on the wrong side of the law.

Reportedly, the two gave a lift to three locals, who requested them to help chase an Indigo car, which after hitting a woman near Kankarkheda bypass sped away towards Modipuram in Western U.P. The locals found the car parked at Modipuram Police Post. The occupants of the car turned out to be the in-charge and other policemen of Pallavpuram Police Post in civil clothes.

Knowing this, the locals withdrew from the scene. The foreigner along with his friend, a resident of Delhi, also followed the suit, but they were intercepted at Dadri Police Post on instructions from Pallavpuram Police Post. They were beaten up and taken to Daurala Police Station. There also they again got a thrashing. The Police extracted a written apology from them that they were on the wrong side of the law. The incident is reported to have happened on the 12th December, 2012.

The Commission has observed in its notice to DIG, Meerut, returnable in four weeks, that Article 14 of the Constitution of India guarantees equality before law and equal protection to any person (whether an Indian or a foreigner). The contents of the press report, if true, amount to abuse of power by the police and grave violation of human rights of the victims.

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