The State Human Rights Commission has issued orders stating that Rs.12,500 should be paid as compensation to the owner of a lorry, from which battery and other equipment went missing after it was taken into custody by the museum police.
According to a release here, SHRC chairman J.B. Koshy stated that the government should ensure payment of the amount within three months and subsequently get the same reimbursed by those responsible for the incident.
The SHRC had earlier issued orders that compensation of Rs.30,000 be paid. However, the amount was reduced after the commission heard the station house officer and the officer who took the vehicle into custody.
The orders were issued in connection with a complaint lodged by N. Sanal Kumar of Parassala pointing out that his lorry, which was carrying M-sand, was taken into custody by Museum Sub-Inspector Bhasi at Edapazhinji on July 16 and taken to the police station.
Armed with an order from the District Collector, directing the release of the vehicle, Mr. Kumar approached the police on August 19 to release his lorry.
However, he found that diesel worth Rs.2,500, a battery worth Rs.7,000, tools worth Rs.4,000, and spare tyres worth Rs.13,000 were missing from the vehicle. He alleged that he was ridiculed by the policemen when he brought this to their notice.
The commission, after examining explanations submitted by the police and a report submitted by its secretary as well, decided to reduce the compensation since it came to light that the spare tyres had not gone missing as alleged in the complaint.
