New Delhi: The Supreme Court has said
torture and death in police custody, the two "most heinous
crimes, are on the rise despite there being Constitutional and
statutory safeguards to protect life and liberty of persons.
"Though several Constitutional and statutory provisions
have been enacted to safeguard the personal liberty and life
of citizens, incidents of torture and death in the police
custody are ever on the rise" a bench comprising Justices H S
Bedi and J M Panchal said.
Maintaining that custodial torture and deaths are the
"most heinous crimes" committed by persons who claim to be
protectors of the citizens, the Bench said the victims in
such cases are "totally helpless."
"What is distressing to note is that the incidents of
torture and death in the police custody take place under the
shield of uniform and authority in the four walls of police
station or in the lock up where the victims are totally
helpless," the court said.
The court made the remarks while dismissing an appeal
against the Karnataka High Court judgment holding nine
policemen guilty for the death of two persons due to custodial
torture.
-PTI
