Press release

National Human Rights Commission

New Delhi: 8th April 2026

NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported illegal detention and torture of a journalist by the Rajkot Crime Branch police in Gujarat

Issues notice to State DGP, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks

The report to include the status of health of the victim and investigation

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that on 22nd March, 2026, a journalist was apprehended in an unlawful manner by the Rajkot Crime Branch police in Gujarat. The journalist was stripped naked, suspended upside down and subjected to physical torture resulting in serious injuries to him. Reportedly, the police tried to threaten the Rajkot Civil Hospital staff against admitting the victim. He was also threatened that false criminal cases would be registered against him and his house would be demolished.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights violations of the victim. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Director General of Police, Gujarat, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks, including the present status of the investigation and the health of the victim.

According to the media report, carried on 29th March, 2026, the journalist operates an online media outlet. The report has also revealed extensive details of the injuries caused to him in police torture. He was admitted to the Rajkot Civil Hospital the next day on 23rd March, 2026.

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