NHRC takes a serious view of the confirmed disproportionate police force and brutality against the peaceful protestors in the 2020 BJYM rally in West Bengal; the State government asked to show cause why monetary relief may not be recommended...

NHRC takes a serious view of the confirmed disproportionate police force and brutality against the peaceful protestors in the 2020 BJYM rally in West Bengal; the State government asked to show cause why monetary relief may not be recommended for the victims

New Delhi, 27th April, 2023

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India, on the basis of material on record, has taken a serious view of the confirmed police brutality, atrocities, and disproportionate force used against the protestors during the peaceful rally ‘Nabanna Chalo' organized by the Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM) on 8th October, 2020 at Howarh, Dankuni, Satragachi and other places in West Bengal. It has issued a notice to the Government West Bengal through its Chief Secretary to show cause within 6 weeks why the Commission should not recommend that the state government pay Rs.1 lakh as relief to the victim whose hair was pulled by the police personnel and was mercilessly beaten and Rs. 50,000/- each to the two other victims, who were subjected to brutal physical torture by the police during the march.

The Commission had registered a case on the basis of the complaint dated 14th October, 2020 and issued notices to the state government authorities calling for reports into the allegations of police brutality.

The Commission has observed that it is clear from the documents available on record, the reports received from the Government of West Bengal in response to its notices, and the comments of the complainant thereon, that the peaceful march was organized without the permission of the government. Be that as it may, the police resorted to using excessive and disproportionate force; colour/chemical mixed water was used in the Canon to easily identify the protesters for selective beatings. The Commission does not approve such kind of unethical practices being adopted by the police upon citizens.

It is admitted on record by the State Government that the police had chased the protesters which makes clear that the people who were part of the march, were subjected to severe beatings by the police. The pictures of the victims depicting the scene on the spot are sufficient to prove that disproportionate force was used and people were brutally beaten up and dragged for a considerable distance. Beating women in full public view by the male police personnel in such a brutal manner that one of the victims got her finger fractured and another's hair was pulled and many of them sustained injuries, is a serious issue of violation of human rights and a matter of concern for the Commission.

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