The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday directed the Assam government to pay an interim relief of Rs 25,000 within four weeks to a 13-year-old boy assaulted inside a police station in Morigaon district on March 9 by an assistant sub-inspector, who has since been suspended.
The assault was brought to the notice of the NHRC by complainant Monojit Singh of Beltola here.
The incident took place inside Laharighat police station in Morigaon district where an ASI “brutally assaulted” the minor who was reportedly caught stealing biscuits from a seized vehicles parked on the police station premises.
A video of the incident, which had gone viral on social media, showed the “minor boy was badly injured and no medical treatment was extended to him”.
The NHRC said the report submitted by the state police clearly admitted to the incident wherein the public servant had been found guilty, adding that “this kind of human rights violation caused to a minor person by a police officer indicates the sorry state of affairs”.
Morigaon police in a report to the NHRC said they had registered a case (No. 151/22) under IPC section 324 r/w Sec. 75 Juvenile Justice Act against accused ASI Upen Chandra Bordoloi, who was subsequently suspended “for indiscipline, gross misconduct and dereliction of government duty” on March 22.
He was chargesheeted on May 28. The police also said a counselling session by trained mental health counsellors was “arranged” for the minor boy to ensure there was no mental trauma after the incident.
Taking serious note of the incident, the NHRC issued a showcause notice under Section 18 of the Protection of Human Rights Act to Assam chief secretary P.K. Borthakur, asking him why monetary compensation amounting to Rs 25,000 shall not be recommended to the victim in the present case.
“In response to the showcause notice issued by the Commission vide order dated 22.7.2022, no response has been received so far. Therefore, it appears that the authority concerned has nothing to say in respect of the payment of compensation to the victim of the present case,” said the NHRC’s September 14 directive to Borthakur.
However, the incident had taken place during the tenure of his predecessor Jishnu Baruah who retired last month.
