Special Cell, Delhi Police: Security for whom?

Friday, 24 February 2006

Prashant Bhushan Delhi

Media reports about a taped phone conversation involving Rajbir Singh, ACP Special Cell of the Delhi Police, show his role as a participant in property disputes between unsavoury characters. These conversations, intercepted by the Narcotics Bureau, show the Delhi supercop's dealings with a narcotics/property dealer Y Kumar. If the tape is genuine, its contents clearly point to the involvement of Singh and his men of the special cell in pressurising property dealers/sellers of property on behalf of other dealers/buyers. For this, they appear to be receiving large sums of money (Rs 50 lakh in this case) as is evident from the taped conversations. This comes on the heels of another incident recently in Mansarovar Gardens in the capital where Special Cell officers were reportedly involved in beating up some property dealers/sellers. Singh has been accused by residents of Mansarovar Gardens of intimidating them and using force to settle a land dispute.

The phone conversations suggest that he uses the staff of the Special Cell, including his decorated colleague, Devendar. This is a serious abuse of the special powers given to the cell and needs to be investigated thoroughly. If the officer is found guilty, appropriate action needs to be taken against this "encounter specialist".

It remains a moot point how far an impartial inquiry can be conducted against such a powerful figure. The Delhi High Court has directed Delhi Police Joint Commissioner (Vigilance) to order a fresh inquiry against Rajbir Singh after the Delhi Police chief exonerated him. Since the ACP reports to IB and not Delhi Police, that exoneration does not mean very much. Unfortunately, the Delhi High Court order will also result only in an internal inquiry into the Mansarovar episode. The court specifically rejected the petitioners' plea that a CBI inquiry be instituted against him. Consequently, it is unlikely that the transcript of the phone conversation will figure in the Joint Commissioner's probe.

The author is Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India

http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/portal/2005/09/119

Human rights activists for Supreme Court intervention in Sukhi case

Jalandhar | February 20, 2006

Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) and Khalra Mission Committee have sought the Supreme Court's intervention for re-opening of the cases against former militants, who were falsely declared dead in ''fake encounters'' and then mysteriosly ''resurfaced to join the national mainstream'' with changed identity.

These organisations also demanded an inquiry by a Supreme Court judge into all fake encounter cases during the period of militancy in Punjab and stringent action against guilty police officials, including Director General of Police (DGP) S S Virk.

Talking to reporters today, PHRO Chairman Justice(retd) Ajit Singh Bains said the DGP and former militant Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi had themselves admitted to the fake encounters. He said they had also acknowledged that former militants were allowed to change their identity and then permitted to lead a ''normal life''.

He said that since the police chief had himself accepted the truth then the rule of law should apply on those who are responsible for mass killings of innocent people and fake police encounters.

Mr Bains said that his organisation alongwith other human rights groups had decided to send a memorandum to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and others concerned, demanding an inquiry into such cases by a Supreme Court Judge.

He said that if required these orgnaisations would file a public interest litigation(PIL) before the court.

http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=255215&cat=India

Army involved in custodial death, says Gogoi

Sunday, 19 February 2006

Guwahati: The Assam government yesterday blamed the army for the custodial death of a villager this month that led to widespread public protests and police firing killing nine people last week.

The clashes erupted in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia district Feb 10 following the death of the villager, Ajit Mahanta, in the army custody Feb 6, a day after he had been picked up on suspicion of having links with the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa).

“We have confirmed that Mahanta died in the army custody. Army commanders are now conducting a probe into the incident,” Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told reporters in the state’s main city of Guwahati.

“We want action against those involved in the custodial death as our government is totally against any form of excesses and human rights violations by the security forces in the name of countering insurgency”.

The chief minister said there were some “black sheep in the army and my own police force” doing things that were not in the interest of the government. “We have ordered a judicial probe headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court to ascertain facts behind the custodial death and the police firing during protests,” Gogoi said. The chief minister Friday visited the village where the police firing took place but was greeted by protesters shouting anti-government slogans and waving black flags. “We are taking the matter very seriously and shall not allow such things to happen in the future,” Gogoi said.