Police call searches on Asma as routine; Commissioner orders enquiry

New Delhi, Aug 3 (UNI) The Delhi Police today said searches conducted at the room of Pakistan human rights activist Asma Jehangir were part of the 'routine checking' of the guest houses and hotels as part of regular security drill.

Police Commissioner K K Paul told UNI that the searches conducted were a routine exercise and it wasn't anything specific or targetted at anyone in particular.

''No search or frisking of individuals were done. It was just a case of routine exercise which the police follows about hotels and guest houses as part of its security drill.'' On why no female Constable was present during the searches in the room of Ms Asma Jehangir, he said ''but there were men present in her room at that time''.

''However, we respect the notion that a women Constable ought to have been there during searches at her room and we are looking into the entire episode to check the lapses.'' Dr Paul added that ''suitable action'' would be taken, if any kind of lapses have taken place, after going into the whole affair.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner late in the evening ordered an enquiry into the entire episode which would look into the ''circumstances and nuances'' under which the searches were made.

Rooms of Ms Asma Jehangir and four other activists -- Justice Fakhruddin G Ibrahim (High Court judge in Pakistan), I Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Siddiqui of Nepal and Lankan activist Shiranthi Jayatilaka -- in Hotel La Sagrita in Sunder Nagar area of South Delhi were searched on Tuesday evening.

The activists were here on a four-day visit to discuss human rights violations issues in South Asian countries under the aegis of 'South Asians for Human Rights. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also called Ms Jehangir over the phone and apologised for the inconvenience caused to her during searches.

UNI AN RP RS2010