Chandigarh: The Haryana Human Rights Commission has ordered an inquiry into allegations that a man was illegally detained at the GRP station in Ambala Cantonment on June 20, tortured, stripped naked, and threatened with false criminal cases unless he paid Rs 10 lakh.Commission chairperson Justice Lalit Batra, who took cognisance of a complaint by Bathinda resident Tarun Chhabra, has directed the Haryana Police to ensure the probe is carried out by an officer not below the rank of an inspector general of police (IGP).Chhabra has claimed that he was summoned to the GRP police station for questioning despite no FIR or complaint being registered against him. According to the complaint, Chhabra’s mother was also denied permission to meet him during his detention, while his mobile phone was retained without lawful authority. He stated that he later underwent treatment at Government Hospital, Bathinda, for injuries sustained during the alleged assault.Justice Batra observed that if the allegations were substantiated, they would amount to grave violations of human rights, including custodial violence, illegal detention, extortion and abuse of police powers. He stressed that such accusations warranted a prompt, impartial and effective investigation.The commission noted that Articles 21 and 22 of the Constitution safeguarded the right to life, personal liberty and due process, while the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, mandated the commission to inquire into alleged violations by public servants.The commission has also directed the director general of police to preserve CCTV footage of the GRP police station recorded on June 20. It further directed the superintendent of police (railways) and the SHO, Ambala Cantonment GRP, to produce the footage before it during the next hearing on Aug 27.
