Pune Police Face Human Rights Inquiry Over Bonnet Parade

The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of an incident in which three murder accused were tied to the bonnet of a police vehicle and paraded through parts of Pune.

The commission has described the episode as 'barbaric' and likened the situation to 'jungle raj', stating that the incident amounts to public humiliation of suspects before determination of guilt and appears to violate constitutional protections.

The MSHRC has issued notices to the state government and senior police officials, including the Maharashtra Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, and Deputy Commissioner of Police Milind Mohite.

The commission has ordered a preliminary fact-finding inquiry into the incident, citing videos circulating on social media that prima facie show a barbaric incident in which three young accused were tied to the bonnet of a police vehicle and paraded on public roads.

The commission has stated that the video clip recollected a bad memory of the old incident with Farooq Ahmad Dar, who was tied to the bonnet of an Army vehicle and paraded through several villages in Kashmir.

The National Human Rights Commission had directed the state to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the victim in that case.

The MSHRC has expressed concern over videos purportedly showing a police officer threatening children who had gathered to witness the incident, stating that such conduct could cause psychological trauma and is contrary to the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.

The commission has noted that the accused were allegedly forced to walk on their knees, assaulted in public, and later tied to the bonnet of a police vehicle, allowing onlookers to attack them in the presence of police personnel.

If the widely-circulated video clips are ultimately found to be correct, they will certainly bring shame to the otherwise well-governed State of Maharashtra, the commission observed.

The incident has raised concerns about the conduct of the Pune Police and the need for an inquiry into the alleged human rights violations.

The MSHRC has directed the state government and senior police officials to respond to the notices and cooperate with the inquiry.

The incident is a reminder of the importance of upholding human rights and the need for police personnel to respect the dignity and rights of all individuals, including suspects and accused persons.

The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission's decision to order an inquiry into the incident is a step towards ensuring that those responsible are held accountable and that such incidents do not recur in the future.

The outcome of the inquiry is expected to have significant implications for the Pune Police and the state government, and will likely lead to a review of police procedures and practices to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

The incident has also raised questions about the need for greater accountability and transparency within the police force, and the importance of protecting human rights and dignity in all interactions with the public.