The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today issued a notice to Tamil Nadu government over report of illegal detention and torture of a juvenile of Kurava community by the state police. Taking suo motu cognizance of media report, the Commission sought reports from state Chief Secretary and the DGP within four weeks as well as the action, if any, taken against the erring police personnel.
According to media reports, the police illegally detained a 17 year old boy and his two family members in connection with a burglary and tortured them brutally last month in Chennai. They were tortured allegedly on the ground that they belonged to a tribe dubbed by the British as criminals under the Criminal Tribes Act, 1871. Expressing concern over the report, the NHRC observed that no human being should be subjected to discrimination merely on the fact that he belongs to a particular caste, creed or community.