Human Rights defenders Detained and Tortured in Mumbai

In a disturbing turn of events, the Revolutionary Workers Party of India (RWPI) organized a peaceful protest near Dadar Station on October 12, condemning the brutalities of war in Palestine. The Mankhurd police, however, detained several Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), including Shankar, Akshay, Dhananjay, and others, to prevent the demonstration.

On October 13, 15 HRDs gathered at Samvidhan Chowk, Mankhurd, to continue the peaceful protest. The situation escalated when the in-charge police inspector, Mr. Jadhav, and his team forcefully dispersed the gathering and assaulted HRD Ruchir Lad. The remand reports indicate that Lad was brutally attacked, including having his head beaten on a road divider railing, sustaining injuries to his head, foot, and back.

Following the incident, HRDs dispersed, realizing Lad was missing. When Supreeth Ravish inquired about Lad's whereabouts at Mankhurd police station, he too was detained. An FIR was filed against Lad, Ravish, and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

In a shocking development, a medical report presented to the court dismissed Lad's claims of police ill-treatment, stating he had "no fresh complaints" despite mentioning injuries to his head and wrist swelling. The arrested HRDs were remanded to judicial custody and are currently incarcerated at Aurther Road Central Prison.

HRDA strongly believes that the illegal detention of HRDs and registration of FIR against the HRDs is an act of reprisal for their activism.

In D.K. Basu vs. State of West Bengal, the Supreme Court of India, called torture “one of the worst crimes in a civilised society governed by the Rule of Law”.

Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights both provide that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Section 41B, Cr.P.C, requires every police officer to prepare an arrest memo at the time of arrest, which is to be attested by at least one witness and countersigned by the arrested person, and inform one family member of the arrest. It appears these procedures have not been followed. Hence HRDA India urged NHRC following demands-

• To direct the Director General of Investigation NHRC to conduct a transparent and an independent inquiry into the arbitrary detention and custodial torture, submitting a report within four weeks and Examine CCTV footage, log registers and arrest records at Mankhurd police station, to ensure compliance with guidelines
• Direct the Director General of Police Maharashtra to suspend and file charges against policemen involved in the alleged torture.