Child rights commission: Conduct high-level inquiry into ‘police brutality’ against kids

Following the complaints from NGOs, the MSCPCR chairperson Susieben Shah called for a joint meeting of all the stakeholders, the NGOs, parents of children, the chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), along with police officials involved in the case

Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has written to the additional director general of police asking them to set up a high-level inquiry committee on complaints received against Shivaji Nagar police officials in Govandi for assaulting minors inside the police station on suspicion of theft. The commission has also asked for the suspension of the police officers involved in the case till the inquiry is completed for a fair probe.

Mumbai, India - March ,29, 2024: Shivaji nager police Station at Govandi mumbai ,in Mumbai, in Mumbai, India, on, Friday, March,29, 2024. ( Praful Gangurde / HT Photo )

HT on March 17 reported about an NGO working on children’s issues alleging that the Shivaji Nagar police had assaulted five minor children, including four girls who were detained after being accused of theft on March 8. The children were beaten with belts and batons on their hands, backs and the soles of their feet; one girl bore injury marks near her ear, another girl injured her shoulder, and the boy sustained injuries to his sole, said the NGO. The police had, however, denied the allegations and claimed they had CCTV footage to support their stand.

Following the complaints from NGOs, the MSCPCR chairperson Susieben Shah called for a joint meeting of all the stakeholders, the NGOs, parents of children, the chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), along with police officials involved in the case.

“Somewhere there is a violation of child rights in this case. It does not take any training for a public officer to understand that a 10-year-old or a 15-year-old who is a minor cannot be taken to the police station and beaten up, let alone kept overnight. This is just not done.” Shah said and added that the police have been asked to submit their report in 15 days.

Senior inspector Bapurao Deshmukh of the Shivaji Nagar police station said, “The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked to submit a report. Once our inquiry is complete we will submit the report to the department.”

A senior IPS officer supervising the case said, “We will inquire and submit the report to the authority.” In its March 17 report, HT had reported that according to the police, a woman filed a complaint with the Shivaji Nagar police station saying she had lost her purse containing ₹70,000 while walking in the area earlier that day. The police checked CCTV footage of the spot and noticed the presence of some youngsters there at the time of the theft after which they visited Jai Ambe Nagar near Chheda Nagar in Chembur. The police had then detained five children aged 11 years to 15 years and one 20-year-old woman from the locality and took them to the police station for questioning, officials had said.