Delhi police, NHRC interns debate on swoop on Ramdev camp

The issue of the midnight swoop on Ramdev's congregation at Ramlila ground dominated an interactive session between Delhi Police personnel and interns of a National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) training programme held in Delhi today.

Several direct questions were raised on the methods of policing and alleged rights violation, including the forceful eviction of people from the protest site on Saturday night.

A paper on 'Human Rights and Police' was presented by Arya Priya, a former intern, who said that the right to peaceful assembly is a key human right.

"The action of Delhi police was in blatant violation of this right and as Supreme Court has taken suo moto cognisance of this, its ruling will be significant in regard to right to freedom of assembly," he said.

In reply to a question, a police officer was of the view that irrespective of orders from senior officers, sometimes they have to use their own discretion in executing orders keeping in view the law, human rights and ground situation.

NHRC member and former CBI DG PC Sharma said there is a wrong perception among some police officials that the commission, by raising issues of violation of human rights, at times tends to obstruct them from discharging their duty.

"Human rights are for everybody, including the police who are the first custodian of these rights and the commission is there to guide and help them in this endeavour," Sharma said.

Sunil Krishna, director general (investigation), NHRC, asked the personnel to be more sensitive towards public and hoped that this interaction will help them in passing the same message to their colleagues.