'Public Humiliation & Custodial Assault have No place in a Rule of Law State': NHRC Complaint demands Suspension of Dehradun Officers who turned a Crowd into a Weapon

A complaint has been filed before the National Human Rights Commission alleging custodial violence and public humiliation by police personnel in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, bringing renewed scrutiny on policing practices and raising serious concerns over violation of fundamental rights and due process safeguards.

Filed by Advocate Sudeep Chandra, the complaint relates to the alleged treatment of two individuals by personnel of Premnagar Police Station, who were reportedly taken into custody and paraded barefoot through public areas while being physically assaulted. It is alleged that the individuals were subjected to lathi blows and exposed to a hostile crowd without any provocation or resistance on their part.

The complaint further claims that the police failed to prevent mob involvement, effectively allowing a form of “collective punishment” inconsistent with established legal protections. The incident, which was allegedly recorded and circulated widely on social media, is said to have caused reputational damage and psychological distress to the victims.

Invoking constitutional protections and established jurisprudence, the complaint places reliance on precedents such as D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal and Joginder Kumar v. State of Uttar Pradesh, asserting that the alleged acts strike at the core of custodial safeguards and human dignity. It characterises the conduct as a direct breach of due process, emphasising that “public humiliation and custodial assault are incompatible with the rule of law.” The plea seeks immediate intervention, including suspension of the officers involved, registration of FIRs, and a time-bound independent inquiry, along with formulation of clear guidelines prohibiting such practices.  

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