Police torture victims still wait for compensation

June 8, 2012
Mangalore, June 8: Engineering student Joel Vaz said on Thursday that he and his father are still waiting for the compensation ordered by the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) from two policemen found guilty of treating them in an inhuman manner.

The Mangalore Police Commissionerate is yet to realise the compensation amount from the two policemen and take disciplinary action as directed by the Commission. The case is related to the incident involving engineering student Joel Vaz, his father Justine Vaz and Gangadhara Shetty. The then police sub-inspector of Mangalore Rural Police station K. Prakash and constable David D'Souza were accused of making the three stand naked in the police station and then making one of them remove the pubic hair of the other in June 2010.

The KSHRC took sou motu notice of the incident and had directed the then Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ramesh to submit a report. Mr. Ramesh found the allegations to be true. In his report, Mr. Ramesh termed the act of the two policemen as “unfortunate, inhuman, and undesirable”.

Accepting his report, the SHRC on August 6, 2011 directed the two policemen to pay compensation of Rs. 25,000 to each of the three victims. The Commission directed the Police Commissioner to recover the compensation amount in three months and also take disciplinary action against the two policemen.

Mr. Joel Vaz told presspersons on Thursday that they had not yet received compensation amount announced by the SHRC.

The Mangalore Police Commissioner was yet to initiate any disciplinary action as recommended by the SHRC. “I have submitted a representation in this regard to the Police Commissioner few days ago. I have not received any reply so far,” Mr. Joel said. Just a few days ago, he received intimation from the High Court about appeal filed by Mr. Prakash against the SHRC order, he added.

Mr. Joel and two others said in the statement that the disciplinary inquiry, which started in 2010, had not concluded yet. They accused Police Commissioner of instituting the inquiry in order to favour Mr. Prakash.

P.B. D'Sa from Peoples Union for Civic Liberties, who spoke on behalf of the three victims, said directions of SHRC holds good as the High Court had not stayed the SHRC order.

Reaction

Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said following the SHRC order he did issue orders for recovery of the compensation. The process stopped following objection raised by Mr. Prakash.

“As the officer no longer works under me, the file has been moved to the unit officer under whom Prakash is now working,” he said.

Mr. Singh said the inquiry was still going on. When pointed out to the long time taken for concluding the inquiry, Mr. Singh said “there cannot be a long or short inquiry”.

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News Network
May 23,2020

Bengaluru, May 22: Police commissioner Bhaskar Rao on Friday said the next two Sundays will be ‘full curfew days’ and the city will be under complete lockdown between 7pm Saturday and 7am Monday.

Addressing the media, the top cop said all essential services will be excluded from the curfew. “People attending weddings and other ceremonies can travel. Those wanting to buy food products or medicines too can step out. However, like in lockdown 1.0, people found loitering unnecessarily will be punished,” he said.

According to Rao, city roads will be barricaded like how it was done during lockdown 1.0 and 2.0.

A senior police officer told TOI that during this period, vehicles could be seized under the Disaster Management Act-2005. “So, we request the public not to come out unnecessarily. If we find people roaming in vehicles, we shall seize the rides and owners will have to approach the court later to get them released,” he said.

The government has extended the lockdown till May 31, which includes two Sundays.
Earlier in the day, the state government allowed inter-state travel from Karnataka with the consent of the receiving state. Praveen Sood, Karnataka DG and IGP, said, “Inter-state pass is not required to go out of Karnataka as long as you have the consent of the receiving state. Due to the lockdown, migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons are stranded at different places. They would be allowed to move as usual.”

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News Network
April 28,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 28: With fresh guidelines on the COVID-19 lockdown expected soon, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday chaired a meeting with key ministers, officials and Deputy Commissioners of districts and discussed about re-starting economic activities in the state, as he took stock about of the pandemic.

"At the video conference with DCs, CM took stock of COVID-19 situation and measures taken to control its spread. Discussions also happened regarding starting of certain economic activities in parts of the state," official sources said. The state government would take any decision in this regard after the Centre issues fresh guidelines or directives, they said, without elaborating.

The meeting came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a video conferencing with Chief Ministers to discuss the situation arising due to COVID-19 in the country, which is under lockdown since March 25 to contain the pandemic. Only nine chief ministers spoke in the virtual meeting with the Prime Minister and Yediyurappa did not get an opportunity.

A senior Minister, who attended the meeting told PTI, necessary directions regarding the lockdown after May 3, they were likely to come in a couple of days.

"Most of the Chief Ministers wanted the lockdown to continue to contain the spread.... nothing concrete emerged, but we expect the necessary directions will follow in couple of days. This is what we expect after seeing what has happened as a followup to three to four such video conferences in the past," he said.

The Minister said the larger opinion was that the current measures should continue and interstate or inter-district movement should not be allowed. Regarding movement within the districts that are green zone, some decision may be taken soon, he said, adding the Prime Minister also asked states to concentrate on reforms, aimed at attracting investments in the days to come.

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coastaldigest.com web desk
June 5,2020

Mangaluru, June 5: A local businessman was hacked to death while two of his relatives suffered critical injuries in a broad daylight attack by a group of miscreants at Mulki on the outskirts of the city today.

The victim has been identified as Abdul Lateef (38). He was proprieter of Align Gold, Moodbidri. His wife is an advocate in Moodbidri. 

Abdul Lateef's father-in-law Muneer and latter's son Hayat suffered stab injuries. They are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Mangaluru. 

The attack took place near the Vijaya Bank in Mulki. 

According to sources, a gang of miscreants stabbed all three. While Abudl Lateef succumbed to his injuries, the other two are responding to the treatment. 

Police have registered a case. Investigations are on. 

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