SC notices against police assault on Panthers Gen Secy

New Delhi, Oct 1 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Jammu and Kashmir government, DGP Jammu and Kashmir, IGP Jammu, DM Reasi, ASP Reasi, DSP, SHO Katra on a petition seeking a judicial inquiry into the criminal assault on Panthers Party General Secretary Anita Thakur during an agitation demanding rehabilitation of Jammu and Kashmir migrants.

A bench comprising Justices Tarun Chatterjee and R V Raveendran issued the notices after hearing senior counsel K K Venogopal who contended that one ASI Gill gagged the mouth of the petitioner and indulged in shoe beating inside the police station at the instance of the SHO Katra. The incident took place on August 7,2007.

The petition contended that another General Secretary HC Jhalmeria and other party workers were also subjected to brutal beatings and their Fundamental Right to Life, gauranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution has been voilated. One leg of Jhalmeria was broken during the police beating and such acts of police are flagrant violation of human rights.

The Judges also saw a five-minute-long CD showing brutal assault on the demonstrators.

The notices are returnable within three weeks and the petitioner has also prayed for the registration of criminal cases against nine errant police officers and has demanded a compensation of Rs ten lakhs each to the victims of alleged police brutality.

UNI