PATNA: The
Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) on Wednesday took Suo Motu cognizance on the much-publicised incident of misbehaviour with a police
chowkidar by an agriculture officer in
Araria district and, in an order, said, “The incident demands quick and immediate action against the guilty officer and his associates.”
In a two-page order passed on Wednesday, the commission’s acting Chairman
Ujjwal Kumar Dubey also demanded detail report on the incident separately from Araria DM and the SP latest by May 6.
A police chowkidar
Ganesh Lal Tatma was on Monday forced to do around 50 sit-ups by the district agriculture officer (DAO), Araria, after Tatma, as part of his duty, halted the vehicle of the DAO and asked him to show pass for moving around during the lockdown. Infuriated over the chowkidar’s action, the DAO
Manoj Kumar who was assisted by an assistant sub-inspector, not only forced the chowkidar to publicly apologise, but also compelled him to do 50 sit- ups while holding his ears. The incident came to the notice of the state government on Tuesday after a video of the sit-up punishment went viral on social media.
“The incident involves gross violation of not only human rights of the victim but also breaking down of laws and rules by the officers who are supposed to be the custodian of law and who stoop so low as to violate them. The incident demands quick and immediate action against the guilty officer and his associates,” Dubey said in the order.
The matter will again come up for hearing before the commission on May 8, the order reads.