High Court issues notice on alleged torture of a man

Imphal, Dec 4: Gauhati High Court has issued a notice of motion returnable within six weeks, in connection with a Writ Petition filed against Moirang Police personnel of Bishenpur district, for allegedly torturing a goldsmith.

The High Court's Imphal Bench, headed by Justice U S Saha, yesterday held that the man had been tortured for two continuous days in police custody here.

The bench issued the said Notice of Motion, following a Writ Petition filed by Moirangthem Gandhi Singh. The petitioner's counsel Meihoubam Rakesh said that on April 15 this year, Moirangthem Gandhi Singh was arrested by the police personnel Moirang Police Station in connection with an FIR under IPC 381/120(B) from his house and he was taken to the police station.

At the police station, Mr Gandhi Singh was subjected to severe torture for two days without providing any food and water, the counsel said and added that the petitioner had not been produced before the concerned Magistrate, during his detention. On April 17 this year the petitioner had lost consciousness at the police station as a result of prolonged torture coupled with malnutrition, he told the court.

The petitioner's counsel said the very act of the police personnel amounts to violation of right to life enshrined in the Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Hence the case was filed, praying for inter alia punishment of the errant police personnel and claiming adequate compensation to the victim under the public law domain.

The respondents in the case included State of Manipur through the Principal Secretary(Home) to the Government of Manipur, the Director General of Police, Manipur, the Superintendent of Police, Bishenpur District, Manipur.

UNI