NHRC notice to the Delhi Police Commissioner over reported death of a man inside Bawana police Station (28.05.2019)

New Delhi, 28th May, 2019

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports about a 58-year-old man, who was called for questioning regarding his wanted son, was found dead inside the premises of Bawana police station, Delhi on the 26th May, 2019. Reportedly, while the police claimed that the man himself jumped to death, his family alleged foul play.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media reports, if true, amount to human rights violations of the victim. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. The Commissioner of Police, Delhi is also expected to submit as to why this custodial death in police custody has not been reported to the Commission as per its guidelines issued on the subject.

The Commission has also observed that the reported the allegations levelled by the family members appear serious in nature police. It is difficult to believe, as reportedly calimed by police, that a 58-year-old man after questioning went to have waer before leaving, which is when he jumped to death from the third floor of the police station. Apparently, the death has not occurred in normal circumstances. A thorough probe into the matter is required, to identify and punish the guilty as a precious human life has come to a tragic end. The Commission is aware that generally, the police picks up family members of an accused to put pressure on him to surrender and the same has probably happened in this case.

According to the media reports, carried today on the 28th May, 2019, the victim was picked up by police form his residence on the 26th May, 2019 as one of his sons was wanted in criminal cases. As mentioned in the news reports, another son of the deceased has claimed that his father was picked up in the afternoon and later in the evening he had called him and asked not to come to the police station because he was being beaten up by the police personnel.

Reportedly, the wife of the deceased who works at a private company was also picked up by the police on the same day but was not allowed to meet her husband. Allegedly, at about 7.00 PM, she saw her husband being pushed from the 3rd floor of the police station. The DCP of the area has however, denied that the wife of the deceased was picked up by the police and reportedly said that she had herself come to the police station. The DCP has reportedly stated that the deceased was called for routine questioning about his son in the presence of his son-in-law. An enquiry into the matter is reportedly being conducted by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.

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