NHRC issues notice to Delhi Police over ‘parading’ of naked criminal

Top cop asked to give detailed report

A day after videos emerged showing the Delhi Police arresting a man and taking him to the police station naked, the National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday issued a notice to the police over “violation of his human rights”.

Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports published on Tuesday, the NHRC said the reports, if true, amounted to inhumane and unprofessional behaviour by the police personnel.

‘Gross violation’

“Humiliating a person, by parading him naked in full public view and in front of his family members is absolutely unethical and violation of his human rights. The right to dignity of the victim has been grossly violated,” the NHRC said.

In its notice, the NHRC asked Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to give a detailed report within four weeks.

According to media reports, a team of Delhi Police personnel had gone to the resettlement colony in Inderpuri last week to arrest the man, who is wanted in several armed robbery cases.

The police reached while he was bathing. In order to avoid arrest, he began climbing down from the house with just a towel tied around his waist. While jumping from the building, his towel fell and he was arrested by the police.

The man’s family allegedly asked the police to allow him to wear clothes, but they did not allow it. The police allegedly hurled abuses at him while taking him to the police station in full public view.