NEW DELHI, November 21: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has deplored the practice of handcuffing and tying up of arrested persons to pillars or trees by Bihar police.

The NHRC's criticism came in the wake of a surprise visit by a senior official of the commission to Gaurichak police station near Patna. During the visit, the official found a 65-year old person, who was arrested in connection with an armed clash, tied to a pillar with a rope, the NHRC said.

The police post, 15 kms away from the city, is located in a ramshackle building belonging to the irrigation department without any lock-up arrangements. It was gathered that in Bihar, the practice was to handcuff the accused and then tie him up to a pillar or a tree in the absence of proper facilities in some police stations, the commission said.

The on-the-spot visit by the NHRC's officer was conducted following a petition alleging that Bihar police was treating the arrested persons in an inhuman manner.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.