Human rights commission raps Bhatkal cops for high-handedness

NT Correspondent
Bengaluru:

The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) has ordered a departmental inquiry against two police officers in Bhatkal, who resorted to caning a youth during the enforcement of the lockdown during the second wave of the pandemic in Bhatkal.

The complaint to KSHRC claimed that Mohammed Irshad (in pic), had been staying at his relatives' house during the second wave of lockdown. He had stepped out of the house to buy medical supplies when he was stopped by two policemen.

The police then beat him indiscriminately by lathis, leaving him bruised and badly injured. He was shifted to a hospital for treatment. Raghavendra, a social activist from Bengaluru, helped his family file a complaint regarding the incident.

The Human Rights Commission has ordered a departmental probe against Bhatkal Sub-Inspector of Police Bharath Kumar and Inspector Diwakar. Further, the KSHRC has also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the cops for their misbehavior

. Speaking to News Trail, Raghavendra, said that a departmental inquiry will not be adequate in such cases. The cops may get a clean chit in a couple of months and can continue their inhuman activities without fearing the law, he said.

"The police are meant to protect the rules, but assaulting public and involving in such 'barbaric acts' on the pretext of policing is barbaric," Raghavendra added