New Delhi, Apr 27: National Human Rights Commission has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to pay "interim relief" of Rs one lakh to the next of kin of an under-trial who died allegedly due to police torture in custody. Sher Mohammad was arrested on February 22, 1996, in connection with two cases in Binowar in UP's badaun district. The next day, he reportedly fell ill and died on way to hospital, an NHRC release said here today.
Mohammad's brother Hasruddin registered a complaint alleging custodial torture following which the district magistrate of Badaun ordered an inquiry.
In March 1996, NHRC issued a notice to the up government which sent the postmortem and magisterial inquiry reports to the commission.
The magisterial inquiry report stated that Sher Mohammad was beaten up by the SHO and died as a result of police torture while being interrogated, the release said.
The postmortem report disclosed the cause of death as "shock and haemorrhage due to injuries before death" received while Mohammad was in police custody, it added.
NHRC then issued notice to the up chief secretary to show-cause why "immediate interim relief" should not be given to the next of kin of the deceased.
However, no reply was received from the chief secretary following which NHRC ordered the payment of Rs one lakh as "interim relief" to Mohammad's next of kin, the release said.
The commission has also asked for a compliance report within six weeks, it added.
Bureau Report