National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Maharashtra government over reports that a tribal teenager died in the state following police torture.
According to an official statement, a notice seeking a detailed report on the matter within four weeks has been sent to the Maharashtra Principal Secretary (Home).
"NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports that Babu Thackeray, a tribal boy of 16 years of age, was tortured in police custody and succumbed to his injuries in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra.
"However, reportedly, his detention was due to a case of mistaken identity. Police had received a tip-off that a man named Babu has stolen 2kg gold. But instead of going after the known criminal Babu, who lived in the same neighbourhood, they went after the teenager," NHRC said.
The boy was picked up by police and tortured during interrogation before being released with a direction to report again at the police station for further questioning.
On June 21, however, he tried to commit suicide by hanging himself but was rescued and taken to a hospital where he later died on July 12, NHRC said citing media reports.
"The contents of the newspaper reports, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights (violation) of the teenager and his kin," the Commission observed.
