Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Apr 22: On Wednesday April 21, the Dakshina Kannada district sessions court, registered a case of human rights violation against a police officer.

Rohitaksha (44), a resident of Banabettu House in Baliyur village in Bantwal taluk, had filed a complaint of police atrocities. The court has now asked the district superintendent of police to investigate and file a report on the incident.

Rohitaksha said that when he was standing at the Uppinangady bus stand on November 23, 2009, sub-inspector of Uppinangady police station, Kadri Nagesh, had taken him to the local police station. “Even though I told him that my left leg had suffered fracture and had been operated upon, the police officer hit it repeatedly with his cane, along with other parts of my body. I fell unconscious. My friend, Kabir, learnt about this incident and took me home. The policemen warned Kabir not to give this information to the media. I was admitted to a hospital next day. Although the hospital promptly reported the matter, no case was registered by the policemen. The petitions sent to the State Human Rights Commission, district superintendent of police and the inspector general of police (western range) failed to evoke any action,” Rohitaksha said in his complaint.

Complainant’s lawyer, Dinesh Hegde Ulepady, said that Rohitaksha had filed complaint in the court on February 6, but it was not taken up immediately as there was confusion as to whether the district court can act as the human rights court. Now, after the relevant documents were furnished, the court has registered the case,” he said.

He explained that under Human Rights Act 1993, and also a notification issued by the state government on April 16, 2005, the district courts have been vested with the power to function as human rights courts. As the lawyers, courts and people did not have proper knowledge about this aspect, no case of human rights were registered in courts since 1993, he said, requesting the State Human Rights Commission to take steps to create awareness about this issue among the people.