Police crackdown on SP workers: NHRC tells DGP to order probe

The commission asked the DGP to submit a report on the incident by April 27. However,the commission found the DGP had simply forwarded reports from IGP (Human Rights) Mahendra Modi and Lucknow DIG D K Thakur,who was involved in the incident,and also that the report of the IGP (Human Rights) was based on the report of the Lucknow DIG.

In his report,the Lucknow DIG said the Samajwadi Party had announced an agitation in the state from March 7 to March 9 without obtaining permission and violated Section 144 of the CrPC. On March 9,the police arrested Akhilesh Yadav,MP and SP state president,outside the Amousi Airport under Section 151 of the CrPC as there was apprehension of breach of peace.

After that,SP workers staged a protest at Hazratganj Chauraha. Since the Assembly was illegal and,in order to maintain law and order and peace,the agitators were dispersed using the minimum necessary force,the DIG said in his report.

On the photograph showing him trampling down an activist under his boots,the report said one of the protestors fell down on the road and he caught hold of the DIG’s leg. The photograph with the news report showed the police official was trying to get his leg released from the activist,claimed the report.

However,the commission noted,”The photograph accompanying the news report belies the explanation given by the DIG and the IG. It clearly shows the right hand of the victim is free and is not touching the leg of the police officer,while his left hand is trying to push away the heel of the boot of the police officer.”

The commission observed,”The report is silent on the allegation that student leaders,namely Sunil Singh Sajan,Pradeep Sharma,Kuldeep Singh Yadav and Ritesh Sahu,were severely beaten up by the police and one Pankaj Yadav suffered injuries on his eye.”