Latest news with #JointActionAgainstCustodialTorture
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Accused cops in Ambasamudram case in active duty; fast-track cases, say activists
Madurai: Human rights activists in Madurai have condemned the continued service of police personnel, including a serving IPS officer, who were allegedly involved in the 2023 Ambasamudram custodial torture case. Under the banner of Joint Action Against Custodial Torture (JAACT) - Tamil Nadu, the activists on Saturday pointed out that unlike the recent Ajith Kumar custodial death case, where swift action was taken, no arrests were made in the Ambasamudram case, and all accused officers remain in active duty. They demanded fast-tracking of all pending custodial torture and death cases and sought compensation for victims and their families. Henri Tiphagne, advisor, JAACT, noted that Balveer Singh IPS and 13 other police personnel in his team were booked in four different cases of custodial torture and all are pending before court. "After placing Balveer Singh under compulsory wait and then suspended, in Jan 2024, the Tamil Nadu govt revoked his suspension. Now, he receives his full salary and since March 2024, he has been serving as assistant commandant (ASP), Tamil Nadu Special VIII Battalion in Tihar Jail, New Delhi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo He is being protected and kept safe in a place away from Tamil Nadu," he said. Tiphagne also pointed out that since the first hearing in the JM court No 1, Tirunelveli, held on Dec 13, 2023, Singh has appeared for only 10 of the 22 hearings held so far, with the trial yet to begin. The JAACT also condemned that IAS officer P Amudha's interim report on the case was made public and submitted in court but her final report has not yet been furnished despite a Sept 2023 high court order. "We are to initiate contempt proceedings against Amudha regarding the matter. We also want to point out that the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act which was there in the original FIR, was removed in the charge sheet, merely because Balveer Singh belongs to the scheduled tribe status though his other co-accused are from the backward castes. The SC/ST Act can still be invoked against other accused. This clearly amounts to 'institutional cheating and suppression of material facts' in an investigation by the CBCID," added Tiphagne. The JAACT also demanded for all victims to be provided compensation and apology as they are victims of gross police torture. "The high court must fast-track all pending cases of custodial torture and custodial deaths and in turn ensure that its registrars and the Legal Services Authority also periodically monitor such cases of custodial torture and deaths. There can be a special court for all cases of torture, namely, in the designated district human rights court, under the Protection of Human Rights Act with day to day trials being foreseen so that speedy trial assured in practice," they stated.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
JAACT-T.N. seeks compensation, apology for Ambasamudram custodial torture victims
Members of Joint Action Against Custodial Torture – Tamil Nadu, through a press meet here on Saturday, sought compensation and apology for the victims of Ambasamudram custodial torture case. Henri Tiphagne, Executive Director of People's Watch, said that the incidents of the horrific crime committed by an IPS officer on the suspects had faded away from the public memory over the period of two years. 'When the police personnel who were responsible for the custodial death of B. Ajith Kumar of Sivaganga were suspended and arrested, why a preferential treatment for IPS officer Balveer Singh who's offence was no less than theirs,' he asked. While on March 29, 2023, Ambasamudram Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) was placed under compulsory wait and then suspended on January 22, 2024, the Tamil Nadu Government revoked his suspension, citing that he had already been under suspension for nine months, he added. 'Now he receives his full salary and since March 18, 2024, has been serving as Assistant Commandant (ASP), Tamil Nadu Special VIII Battalion in Tihar Jail, New Delhi,' he noted. Mr. Tiphagne wondered whether the transfer to a place far away from Tamil Nadu was to hide the officer from the public and media. As the first hearing in the Judicial Magistrate Court No 1, Tirunelveli, was held on December 13, 2023, so far, Balveer Singh had appeared for only 10 of the 22 hearings and the trial was yet to begin, he said. Despite serious allegations, he and other police personnel continued in service without suspension or accountability, he charged. He further noted the CB(CID) that investigated the four cases in connection to the custodial torture cases had withheld the caste identity of two other accused who belong to Backward Class (BC) to avoid invoking the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act in the charge sheet, though the initial FIR was under the SC/ST (POA. The SC/ST Act, which was there in the original FIR, was removed in the charge sheet, merely because Balveer Singh belonged to the Scheduled Tribe status though his other co-accused were from the backward castes, he observed. This clearly amounts to institutional cheating and suppression of material facts in an investigation by the CB CID, he added. Further, he demanded compensation for all the victims as the pain they endured could have cost many of them their lives. 'Fortunately, as the pus formation did not take place, their lives were saved,' Mr. Tiphagne stated. Above all, as per the 'UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law, 2005,' the State owed them an apology, he noted.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
If former DGP's order to monitor special teams been followed, death of Ajith Kumar could have been avoided: JAACT Thozhar Thiyagu
Had the former Director General of Police C. Sylendra Babu's guidelines to monitor the special police teams in police stations been followed, the murder of B. Ajith Kumar, custodial death victim of Madapuram could have been avoided, said Joint Action Against Custodial Torture (JAACT) State coordinator Thozhar Thiyagu. Following his visit to Ajith Kumar's house at Madapuram near Thirupuvanam, along with Henri Tiphagne, founder and executive director of Madurai-based human rights organisation People's Watch, here on Monday, Mr. Thiyagu said that following the custodial death of Vignesh in Chennai, Mr. Sylendra Babu issued 41 orders to the police across the State. The second order, which was to monitor the special teams operating under the police stations, if had done properly, the death of an innocent youth could have been avoided, he noted. Not just deaths, but serious offences committed by officials like former Ambasamudram ASP Balveer Singh, were happening very regularly, Mr. Thiyagu said. 'After every incident Chief minister M.K. Stalin promises that it will not happen again. But within the next few months, the same is being repeated,' he stated. When police enjoyed impunity and with absence of no special law for protection against custodial death and torture, such incidents would continue, he stated. Demanding a special law against custodial deaths, he demanded that the law be named after victim Ajith Kumar.
