Train traffic cops on how to treat public, SHRC suggests DGP

The commission made the observation while awarding compensation of Rs 50,000 to a petitioner who was harassed by cops in Chennai on April 2, 2018. Taking suo moto cognizance over a Daily Thanthi report, the commission issued summon and thereafter M Prakash filed a complaint against Mambalam traffic police officials. Prakash was travelling along with his mother and sister in a two-wheeler when police officials stopped him and demanded Rs 500. Prakash submitted that he was ready to give said amount if they provide him receipt but he alleged that the officials abused him and pushed his mother. They also assaulted Prakash and tried to break his hands, the complaint claimed.

The petition said that Prakash was taken to the police station and a false case was registered against him. “Woman cop assaulted him and his mother Sangeetha. On the following day, she was taken to Kilpauk GH after she was suffered stomach and chest pain,” read the complaint. Countering this, police officials denied the allegations and said the complainant rode a two-wheeler with luggage along with his mother and sister by violating the traffic rules. Prakash snatched the police official’s walkie-talkie and smashed it on the floor.

Recording the submissions, acting Chairperson D Jayachandran awarded a compensation of Rs 50,000 and said, “Police officials – Suresh, Jayaraman and Suyabmabulingam - had taken the law into their hands and by not following the provisions of law and violated the human rights of Prakash.”

In another incident, taking suo moto over media report, the commission has asked Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore to submit a report within two weeks regarding a woman cop who assaulted a young man in Perur All Women Police Station in Coimbatore after he refused to pay a bribe.