HC orders 2L compensation in ‘police atrocity’ case

Kolkata: Calcutta High Court awarded compensation of Rs 2 lakh to a family on Tuesday while hearing a plea alleging police atrocities. Petitioner Sunita Shukla had moved the court complaining that her son Vishal was subjected to abuse of power when he was detained in Titagarh Police Station on March 9, 2022.
Justice Shampa Sarkar directed the state to realise the amount from the “erring police officer” after an inquiry was conducted by Barrackpore Police Commissionerate for fixing responsibility.Justice Sarkar ordered the state to pay the compensation within two months. It took into account “irregularities” in the investigation process, including destruction of CCTV footage while Vishal was in custody.
Titagarh Police had slapped charges against Vishal under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The mother complained the police had forcibly taken Vishal in custody due to political reasons. She also complained that her son was “falsely implicated”.
The court noted that “the method and the manner in which the accused was taken in custody and the records available with regard to such action by the police from the arrest to purported release of the petitioner’s son have several discrepancies.”