New Delhi, January 19th, 2012

The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the DGP, Government of Chhattisgarh and Secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs taking suo motu cognizance of a media report alleging that due to torture a suspected naxalite nabbed by a CRPF team committed suicide at a police station in Dantewada District, Chhattisgarh on 13th January, 2012. They have been asked to submit a report in the matter within four weeks.

The DGP, Chhattisgarh has also been directed to send copies of inquest report, postmortem report and magisterial enquiry report, as per the guidelines of the Commission.

According to the media report, Pudiyami Mada - a suspected Naxal- committed suicide in the night at the Sukma police station, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh on 13th January, 2012. Reportedly, the Sukma police station diary recorded that the Pudiyami was nabbed by a CRPF team the same morning and handed over to the police. The police, however, claimed that CRPF personnel had nabbed Pudiyami a few days earlier. The relatives of the deceased also alleged that the deceased was missing since Monday.

It was also reported quoting police sources that after his remand Pudiyami had told them that he was tortured by CRPF personnel who poured petrol on his private parts and set them on fire. In the medical test of the victim abrasions and swelling over the penis and lateral part of anus had been confirmed.
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