New Delhi, 20th June, 2014

The National Human Rights Commission has recommended that Government of Chhattisgarh pay Rs.5 lakh as monetary relief to the next of kin of Pudiyami Mada, who died due to torture by police while being in illegal custody from the 9th January, 2012 to 13th January, 2012. The Chief Secretary of the State has been asked to submit compliance report along with proof of payment within eight weeks.

The Commission had taken suo motu cognizance of the issue on the 19th January, 2012 on the basis of a media report alleging that Pudiyami Mada, a suspected Naxalite, committed suicide at the Sukma Police Station, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh on the 13th January, 2012. However, the local police put the blame on the CRPF personnel saying that they had nabbed Mada a few days earlier and had tortured him.

In response to the notices, the State Government provided various reports, including the Magisterial Enquiry Report, which confirmed that Pudiyami Mada died in police custody and that it was a very serious matter. He might have committed suicide during custody because of the torture that might have been inflicted upon him from the 9th to 13th January, 2012 when he was allegedly in illegal custody.

According to the Magisterial Enquiry Report, the police kept him in custody in spite of having being remanded to the judicial custody and the fear of torture might have triggered his suicide. The Magisterial Enquiry Report has observed that death in custody is a clear security lapse and officials who illegally kept him should be answerable. He has recommended that the matter be investigated by the CID and FIR be registered against the offenders.

The Commission has observed that Magisterial Enquiry Report has pointed negligence on the part of the State officials and therefore, the State is liable to pay monetary relief to the next of kin of the deceased.

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