NHRC Seeks Report From Etah SSP Into Suicide By Minor Sent As An Adult To Jail

New Delhi, Sep 30 (TNA) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of a complaint, accompanied by a news clipping, that a 15-year-old minor boy, unable to bear the torture of being sent to a jail as an adult on charges of drug possession, committed suicide when released on bail after three months in Etah, on September 21.

Allegedly, the boy was arrested by the Etah police in connection with drug possession and was sent to district jail instead of producing him before a Juvenile Justice Board. The father of the boy has reportedly alleged that his son was illegally arrested and tortured to extort money by the police.

The Commission has directed the SSP, Etah to have the allegations inquired by a senior rank police officer and submit an action taken report to the Commission, within four weeks, particularly on the facts it has asked for regarding his being minor but still sent to jail.

In addition to this, the Commission has also directed its Investigation Division to conduct an on the spot enquiry, analyze the case and suggest the institutional measures, which could be recommended the government to ensure that the children are not being treated as adult for prosecution.

The Investigation Division has also been directed to look into the role played by all the concerned stakeholders in this case, including the Judge, before whom the child was produced within 24 hours of the arrest, and the role of the doctor who examined the child. The inquiry report is to be submitted within six weeks.