NHRC issues notice to Bihar Govt in torture case

NHRC issues notice to Bihar Govt in torture case
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, JULY 10: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday sought a report from the Bihar Government and State Director General of Police on the alleged torture of a driver and cleaner by Bihar Minister of State for Cooperative Lalit Kumar Yadav. Following the incident's exposure, Chief Minister Rabri Devi on late Sunday night striped Yadav's ministerial post. Yadav, a second-term MLA from Manigachi in Darbhanga district, has also been suspended from the primary membership of the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), party sources said.

NHRC, taking a suo motu cognizance of a news captioned `Bihar Minister turns sadist; driver's nail plucked out, forced to drink urine' in a national daily, issued a show cause notice seeking progress of the case and why monitory compensation should not be given to the victims.

In view of a criminal case having been registered against Yadav for the alleged illegal detention and torture of the truck driver Deenanath Baitha and cleaner Karoo Ram for a month, the full Commission in its order asked for a report within two weeks.

On July 8, a case was registered against Yadav, who was out of the State's capital under the Prevention of Atrocities on Dalits Act and several other sections of the IPC after Baitha and Karoo Ram were rescued by the police following telecast of a news report on them by a private TV channels.

In his complaint Baitha, who was writhing in pain at Sachivalaya police station, told reporters after his rescue, that during his confinement he was mercilessly beaten up by Yadav and his henchmen, who pulled out his nails by pliers and even urinated in his mouth.

The action against Yadav follows submission of a report by state's Chief Secretary V S Dubey and Home Secretary U N Panjiar to the Chief Minister on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Director General of Police K A Jacob said efforts were on to arrest Yadav whose whereabouts were still not known.