Custodial torture: NCM may summon Vadodara cops

The family members of the five detainees and the community leaders took up the matter with the NCM on Tuesday alleging torture on them in custody. They also said the police threatened them with dire consequences if they spoke out against the police atrocities.

Five people were arrested by plain clothes policemen from Patel Faliya of Hathikhana in Vadodara between September 1 and 3. They were alleged to have hatched a conspiracy to create communal disturbance during Ganesh Visarjan in 2008. The police said the accused had also assembled a crude rocket launcher.

The family members said that even the people who tried to help them were threatened by the police. Following their representation,the NCM asked the authorities to conduct medical test on the accused and demanded the report. The NCM,in its letter to the state Chief Secretary,stated they will be visiting Vadodara and summon the concerned police officers if needed.

Vadodara Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said,“We have not received any letter from the NCM. If it is addressed to the chief secretary,when it reaches us and we will act on it accordingly.” The chief secretary remained unavailable for comments.

The youths detained include Zahir Shaikh,Usman Shah,Iqbal Nazir Shaikh,Mushtaq Ismail Shaikh and Amin Razzak Shah.

Anhad,which had earlier taken up the issue,also alleged that the Vadodara city police “illegally detained” five youths from the city violating the D K Basu Supreme Court guidelines.

The police have booked them under the provisions of the Explosives Act,Arms Act,CRPC 153 (A,B and C),and Section 120 for conspiracy.