Bihar human rights body seeks reply from Araria DM, SP

PATNA: The Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC) on Wednesday took suo motu cognizance on the Araria incident in which a police chowkidar was humiliated by the district agriculture officer for asking him to show vehicle pass.
“The incident demands quick and immediate action against the guilty officer and his associates,” the BHRC order reads.
In the two-page order passed on Wednesday, BHRC acting chairman Ujjwal Kumar Dubey also demanded detailed report from Araria DM and the SP on the incident by May 6.
Chowkidar Ganesh Lal Tatma was on Monday forced to do around 50 sit-ups by the Araria DAO after Ganesh on duty halted his vehicle and asked him to show pass for moving around during the lockdown. Infuriated over the chowkidar’s action, DAO Manoj Kumar, assisted by an assistant sub-inspector, not only forced Ganesh to publicly apologize, 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-ups 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.