NHRC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance of Alleged Minor Torture in Rajkot Police Custody
NHRC, India, issues notice to Gujarat DGP seeking a report in two weeks on the alleged torture of a 17-year-old boy in police custody at Gandhigram Police Station.
NHRC Acts on Alleged Torture of Minor in Gujarat Police Custody
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken cognizance of a serious allegation involving the torture of a minor in police custody at the Gandhigram Police Station in Rajkot district, Gujarat.
The incident reportedly occurred on September 1, 2025, but came to public light on October 6, 2025, after a video depicting the alleged torture surfaced on social media.
Commission's Response and Directives
The NHRC has viewed the media report as raising a "serious issue of human rights violation" of the 17-year-old boy, if the contents are accurate. Consequently, the Commission has taken swift action by issuing a notice to the Director General of Police (DGP), Gujarat.
The DGP has been directed to submit a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.
Details of the Allegation
According to the media report, carried on October 7, 2025, the video footage allegedly shows a police officer pulling hair from the scalp of the minor while other police personnel were present and reportedly laughing.
The boy had been taken into custody on the night of September 1, 2025, in connection with a stabbing incident that occurred the day before. Following detention, the minor and his associates were presented before a juvenile court, which sent the boy to a juvenile detention center. He was reportedly released on bail approximately two weeks later.
The NHRC's intervention underscores its role in ensuring accountability and protecting the human rights of vulnerable individuals, especially minors, against alleged police excesses.
