Alleged illegal detention: Give notice to youth before arrest, HC directs Chandigarh Police

Nitin, 23, a resident of Sector 29, went missing on November 24 and surfaced on November 26, hours after the HC took up a plea of his family members that alleged illegal detention by police

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Chandigarh Police to give a seven-day prior notice in case they found any grave evidence against a local youth in any non-bailable offence and intend to take him into custody.

The family alleged that Chandigarh Police picked up Nitin in connection with an armed loot and tortured him. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Nitin, 23, a resident of Sector 29, went missing on November 24 and surfaced on November 26, hours after the HC took up a plea of his family members alleging illegal detention by police. The family also alleged torture and frame-up in a robbery case.

The family alleged that Nitin was picked up in connection to an armed loot that took place near the mango orchards in Sector 28 on November 18. The person who executed this robbery is suspected to have fired on a police team on November 23, leaving a home guard volunteer injured.

The youth appeared before the HC on November 30, following which his family’s plea seeking his release was disposed of. The court said that for any further grievance about illegal detention, Nitin can make a representation before the director general of police, who upon inquiry would pass a speaking order within four weeks.

Meanwhile, if police want to arrest him in any case, he would be served a prior seven-day notice, the court added.