Human Rights Panel Steps In After Pune Police Parade Video Sparks Outrage, Seeks Answers From Top Officials
Pune, Maharashtra: The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has taken serious note of a controversial incident in Pune where three murder suspects were allegedly tied to a police vehicle, paraded through public streets, and assaulted by people gathered around them.
Calling the incident a “barbaric” act and a possible violation of human rights, the Commission has initiated action on its own after videos of the incident surfaced on social media and triggered public concern.
A Full Bench of the MSHRC, led by Chairperson Justice A.M. Badar, along with members Justice Swapna Joshi and Sanjay Kumar, registered a suo motu complaint and issued notices to senior government and police officials.
The Commission has sought responses from the Maharashtra Chief Secretary, Director General of Police (DGP), Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Milind Mohite, and Senior Police Inspector Mansingh Patil of Bharati Vidyapeeth police station.
According to the Commission, the videos circulating online appear to show the three accused being tied to a police vehicle, taken through public areas, and allegedly subjected to assault by members of the public. The panel said that if the footage is found to be genuine, the incident could damage the reputation of the Maharashtra Police and raise serious questions about law enforcement practices.
The MSHRC has directed the Chief Secretary and the DGP to submit personal affidavits explaining the government’s position and detailing the action taken so far.
Apart from seeking explanations, the Commission has also ordered a preliminary fact-finding inquiry through its investigation wing. The probe will be led by Special Inspector General of Police Datta Karale, with support from other officials, including Registrar Vijay Kedar and Superintendent of Police Viswas Pandhare.
The Commission has asked for the inquiry report within one week to determine the facts surrounding the incident and assess whether any human rights violations took place.
The case has sparked a wider debate over police accountability, treatment of accused persons in custody, and the need to follow legal procedures while dealing with criminal suspects.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
