WBHRC holds police officials guilty of youth self-immolation

West Bengal Human Rights Commission on Wednesday held a section of Kolkata Police officials responsible for the self-immolation of a youth, who was fighting for justice for a rape victim.

Kolkata: Holding a section of Kolkata Police officials responsible for the self-immolation of a youth, who was fighting for justice for a rape victim, West Bengal Human Rights Commission on Wednesday recommended compensation of Rs 5 lakh for his next of kin.

"From the reports and evidence collected, Chairman Justice (retd) Ashok Kumar Ganguly found that a section of officials of Karaya police station of Kolkata Police are prima facie responsible for the death of Aminul Islam, who had committed suicide by setting himself on fire in front of the police station," WBHRC joint secretary Sujoy Kumar Haldar said here. "The commission has recommended a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of Aminul and has asked the state government to file action taken report on the recommendation within two months," he said. Aminul is survived by his mother, who has moved the Calcutta High Court seeking an investigation by an independent agency other than the Kolkata Police on the ground that the Kolkata Police`s own personnel are accused in the matter. Aminul, who was helping a 16-year-old rape victim in her fight for justice, was allegedly harassed by officials of Karaya police station in south-east Kolkata and also implicated him in a false case of dacoity, Haldar said. "It was alleged that the rape accused, Shahazada Bux was a local influential person and was being shielded by the police personnel," he said. Frustrated and harassed, the youth had set himself on fire in front of the police station on December three last and succumbed to his injuries on New Year`s Day. WBHRC chairman Justice (retd) Ashok Kumar Ganguly had taken suo motu cognisance of the case and had sought a report from the police commissioner. After studying the report and holding an enquiry on its own, the commission came to the conclusion that there was a nexus between Shahazada Bux and a section of officials of Karaya police station, he said. "It was also found that the officials of the said police station were prima facie responsible for the act of self immolation of Aminul," Haldar said. He said that no action was, however, recommended against the officials as the police authorities had already initiated punitive measures. PTI