KSHRC seeks report on police harassment

Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has directed the city Police Commissioner to send a report on the alleged recent police harassment at State Information Commission office premises within six weeks.

The KSHRC, based on a complaint lodged by Veeresha B.H., a RTI activist, has ordered sending a copy of the complaint to the Commissioner of Police.

In his complaint, Veeresha alleged that citizens are being treated as criminals by the police on the premises of Karnataka Information Commission office and subjected to harassment under the guise of providing security. He alleged that police have been compelling the visitors selectively to sign in the book maintained at the office entrance.

The complainant has alleged that the Chief Information Commissioner and the Secretary of the Commission have expressed their innocence and inability to intervene in the issue.

The News Trail had published a story (20 policemen guard KIC office! At Rs 15 lakh to the exchequer) on February 18 narrating how the policemen posted at the entrance of Information Commission Office have become a hurdle to the visitors.

Many RTI activists have criticized posting of around 20 policemen at the Information Commission Office. They have also criticized spending a huge amount towards salaries and allowances for the policemen.

“I am very happy with the KSHRC direction to the Commissioner of Police to send a reply on police harassment at the Information Commission Office within six weeks. I have mentioned 10 witnesses to support my complaint lodged with the KSHRC,” Veeresha said.

A few RTI activists, however, feel this was not enough. “I am of the opinion that the KSHRC should have directed the police to stop harassing the visitors, instead of seeking a reply from the Commissioner of Police after five weeks,” said Venkatesh H.M., a RTI activist.

Coming down heavily on the police department for posting so many policemen at the Information Commission Office, Sai Datta, a social activist, has said that majority of the people who visit the Information Commission Officer are common public. “The people, especially RTI applicants, visit the Information Commission Office when they fail to get response for the RTI queries from the government officials concerned. The police have a lot to do in Bengaluru rather than wasting time at the Information Commission Office,” Datta said.