Kanhaiya’s Statement Was Dictated by Delhi Police: NHRC Report

NHRC fact-finding committee’s report makes incriminating statements against Delhi police.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) probe team came down heavily on Delhi police in the Kanhaiya Kumar case. In its report submitted on Friday, the NHRC said that the physical assault on the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union President in the court premises appeared to have been “organised and pre-planned”.

Adding to that, the report said,

• Kumar was subjected to psychological pressure and was made to issue a statement before he appeared in the court.
  
• The content, construction and framework of the statement were as dictated by the police.
  
• The physical assault on Kumar appears to be organised and pre-planned.
  
• Kanhaiya Kumar was abused and physically assaulted by some persons dressed as advocates in the Patiala House court premises on 17 February.
  
• He was even physically assaulted inside the adjoining court room in the presence of police.
  
• The police team did not do anything to prevent the assault or apprehend the attackers even though they were identified by Kanhaiya Kumar.
  
• There was serious dereliction of duty on the part of the police.
  

Kanhaiya Tells NHRC Panel

The panel had visited Kanhaiya Kumar in Tihar jail on Thursday. Kumar told them that he was arrested without any valid reason and he was not told the grounds of arrest.

He further said that he had not committed any offences as now alleged. However, this aspect is under investigation by the police.

Kumar did not complain of any physical assault by the police while in custody. However, he was subjected to psychological pressure during interrogation.

A copy of the inquiry report submitted by the NHRC team has been forwarded to Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi and the Director General of Tihar Jail.

The team was formed following the direction of NHRC’s Acting Chief Cyriac Joseph, and comprised the Commission’s Registrar (Law) CK Chaturvedi, and SSP (Investigation) SK Jain.

It said Tihar has made special arrangements to ensure safety and security of Kumar and that he has been kept in an independent and separate cell.

“Dedicated security staff has been deployed to ensure his safety and security round the clock. Several security instructions have been issued by the prison authorities in this regard.”