NHRC: Police flouted SOP

Taking serious cognisance of the arrest of five activists with alleged Maoist links, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday observed that “the Standard Operating Procedure in connection with these arrests has not been properly followed by the police authorities, which may amount to violation of their human rights”.

A day after the arrest of Varavara Rao and four other human rights activists by the Pune police, the NHRC issued notices to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Maharashtra seeking a factual report from them on the arrests within four weeks.

Rao and four other activists --Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Pereira, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha – were arrested by the Pune police for their association with the Elgaar Parishad held in Pune ahead of the January 1, 2018 Bhima-Koregaon riots and their alleged links with the Maoists.

Alluding to the media reports, the NHRC observed that “it appears, the standard operating procedure in connection with these arrests has not been properly followed by the police authorities, which may amount to violation of their human rights”

“Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Maharashtra calling for a factual report in the matter within four weeks,” a NHRC statement said.