By YKA Staff:
The last eight months saw the death of 111 people in police custody, the Parliament was informed on 8th December 2015 by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju. Apart from the deaths, 330 cases of torture were also reported in the country, PTI reported.
Overall, almost 25, 000 instances of police brutality were reported in the period from April 1 to November 30 this year. The minister told the Lok Sabha that the data, collected by the National Human Rights Commission, showed a “mixed trend.”
The issue continues to go unresolved. The Times of India reported two years ago, in November 2013, that almost 12,000 people had died while in police custody.
Human rights activists had said in the past that there should be an FIR registered in all such cases and the burden of proof should be shifted on the accused.
Activists have also pointed out that usually in such cases while compensation might be awarded, little or no action is taken against the culprits. Worried by the recurring phenomenon of custodial deaths, usually of those who are poor and defenceless, the Supreme Court said in August this year that cops responsible in such deaths should be tried for murder.
Observers have noted that although India is a signatory to the international covenant which prevents the use of torture that causes deaths in police custody, such instances keep going unchecked.