Bihar people ‘not safe with police’: BHRC

The Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) noted with “concern and dismay” on Thursday that the people of the state were “not safe with the police”. HT reports.

The Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) noted with “concern and dismay” on Thursday that the people of the state were “not safe with the police”.

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The observation was in response to director-general of police (DGP) Abhayanand’s reply to the commission, in connection with a case of misconduct against a sub-inspector (SI).

Nine departmental proceedings had been initiated against the SI, Subodh Kumar Singh, and he had been awarded punishment in seven.

When the BHRC asked the DGP if it was in the public interest to retain such an officer in service, the latter questioned the jurisdiction of the state human rights commission.

“The issue of retaining a government servant in (the) public interest on account of orders of punishment passed in different departmental proceedings may not fall within the purview and jurisdiction of the state human rights commission given the provisions of the Protection of Human Rights Act,” said Abhayanand.

“Police officials work under several constraints and in difficult situations … At times, even false cases and complaints are lodged against them,” he added. To this SHRC chairperson Justice (retd) SN Jha said that the very fact that the SI had been punished in seven out of nine cases after investigation proved that the complaints were not false.

“After all, punishments were awarded by the police officers themselves.”