NHRC notice to Delhi Police Commissioner and Dy Commissioner, East District on reports of delayed action in the issues leading to a boy's death in a scuffle in Mayur Vihar [01.07.2016]

Press Release


New Delhi, 01st July, 2016

The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo moto cognizance of media reports that the police delayed taking action in the incident involving the death of a 14-year old boy, Rajat Menon in a scuffle with two paan masala sellers in Mayur Vihar, East Delhi on the 29th June, 2016. Reportedly, the two pan sellers sold marijuana to many people in the locality and a complaint about their misbehavior made to the police earlier also. Allegedly, the police are in connivance with the sellers and are being given a cut from the profit they make. The paan masala sellers even had molested the local women but police did not register the case.

The Commission has observed that the contents of media reports, if true, raise serious issues of violation of Right to Life and Right to Health in the wake of contraband substances being supplied by the local shops without any preventive and prohibitive action by the police. The allegation that the police did not take immediate action in the matter, if true, violates the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court of India. The District Administration and the police are answerable for the same.

Accordingly, notices have been issued to the Commission of Police, Delhi and Deputy Commissioner, District East, Delhi calling for reports within a week responding to the following specific questions:

1. What are the circumstances leading to the death of Rajat Menon?
2. When was the incident of death reported to the police?
3. When was the F.I.R. registered?
4. What was the reason for public protests in front of New Ashok Vihar P.S. in the night of Wednesday (29.06.2016)?
5. If there was any delay in registering the F.I.R. and initiation action, what was the reason or justification for the delay?
6. Is there any truth in the allegation that narcotic drugs are being sold to young people through the paan shops / kiosks in the area?
7. What is the progress in the investigation?
8. Whether any complaint was submitted to the police that the two paan masala sellers sold marijuana to many people in the locality and about their misbehaviour. If yes, what action was taken by the police on the complaint.
*****?