The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today issued notice to Chhattisgarh government over the "arrest and torture" of a journalist in Bastar by the police for allegedly posting objectionable comments on social media.
The Commission received a complaint drawing specific attention to the arrest, detention and torture of a progressive journalist by police in Bastar on March 21. The complaint alleged that human rights activists are being targeted for doing their work, an NHRC statement said.
The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Chhattisgarh and a factual report in the matter has been sought within two weeks time.
"The complainant has alleged that the victim journalist and a Human Rights activists Prabhat Singh was picked up from his shop by policemen in plain clothes without any notice or warning about 6 PM.
"He was taken to Parpa police station, beaten up and tortured all night and even deprived of food and water," the NHRC statement said.
The complainant has requested the Commission for its immediate intervention, impartial investigation and action against those found guilty of violation of human rights of the victim.
Prabhat Singh, who is said to be working for a Hindi national daily, was picked up by Bastar police on March 21 from Dantewada district and arrested yesterday.
He was produced before a Jagdalpur court yesterday which remanded him in judicial custody for 15 days.
"Singh was booked under IT Act following the complaint by Bijapur-based journalist Santosh Tiwari and other scribes for allegedly posting an insulting message on a Whatsapp group early this month," Bastar Superintendent of Police R N Dash said.
There are three other cases also lodged against him last year at different police stations of Dantewada, he said.
Singh is the third journalist to be arrested in Bastar in nine months. Two others -- Santosh Yadav and Somaru Nag -- have been arrested for allegedly helping Maoists. Nag was arrested in July last year, and Yadav two months later.
