Detained and tortured two Adivasi youths get justice after 7years.

NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Kerala government to pay a sum of Rs. 10,000/– to two Adivasi boys as an immediate relief, who were alledgedly detained and tortured by the state police in the year 1997.

The Christian Cultural Forum, Kollam had intervened in this case, asking the NHRC why the police officials of Agali in Attappaddi in Palkkad district had illegally detained two boys–Manikandan (16) and Parameswaran (17) and also a woman Kupamma in May of 1997. The police however gave a different story, the SP's report stated that the two boys had been caught by an estate owner on the suspicion that they had robbed him of Rs 2,500.

The three were handed over to the Agali police but no case was registered as the estate owner refused to file a written complaint.

The report however did admit that the boys were detained illegally from May 25 to June 17 and that the Circle Inspector, ASI and two constables who were involved in the beating up and torture of the three have been suspended.

After considering the report, the NHRC directed that a copy of the police report be sent to the complainant for comments, particularly with regard to the woman as a police record had also shown that she went missing on June 11 with another person.

Since no response was received from the complainant, the Commission decided that no further action was called for as far as the woman was concerned.

The NHRC directed that a show cause notice be issued to the Kerala Chief Secretary as to why immediate interim relief not be granted to the two Adivasi boys for their illegal detention.

In response to the show cause notice, the Kerala government said as a case had been registered against the erring police officials and departmental action also instituted, it is not in a position to make any payment as the matter was sub–judice.

However, the NHRC observed ''pendency of criminal cases is no impediment to the award of immediate interim relief under the Protection of Human Rights Act '' and therefore the government should pay Rs 10,00 each to the two victims.

The Commission also asked the state government to send a compliance report within six weeks.

The time span of getting justice has raised concerns. Is it not Justice delayed, justice denied? Some corrective measures should be adopted in this country, so that justice prevailed in due time.

By our correspondent.