NHRC seeks report from Delhi Police on the media reports of a PCR van hitting a man to death

New Delhi, 7 January 2005

The National Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of a media report regarding a Police Control Room van of the Delhi Police hitting one person to death and trying to escape. The Commission has asked the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to look into the allegation and submit his comments within two weeks. The Commission has also desired to know about the person who was driving the vehicle as well as names of the occupants and whether they were on duty when the accident took place.
As per reports, the PCR van hit one Mr. J.N. Awasthi, a 47-year-old Indian Air Force employee which resulted in his death. The report further disclosed that the PCR van, which tried to get away, was only stopped after a passing Navy gypsy chased and intercepted it some 100 meters from the spot. Report also disclosed that local people were incensed by an alleged comment by a senior police officer who asked them to leave since no one from their homes had died. It is further alleged that the police party eventually dispersed the crowd and even lathi-charged them.
The Commission said that if the contents of the report are true, it raises a serious cloud over the sensitivity of the concerned police personnel apart from being a serious issue of violation of human rights.
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