Calcutta High Court seeks report on custodial death of minor in Birbhum

A division bench headed by Justice Harish Tandon of Calcutta High Court on Thursday sought reports from the state home secretary and director-general of police on the alleged custodial death of a 15-year-old boy in Birbhum’s Mallarpur on October 30.

The home secretary was directed by the court to state if there were child-friendly corners at every police station in Bengal. The DGP was asked if there were closed-circuit television cameras at police stations and how many of them work.

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Both the home secretary and DGP have been told to submit their reports by November 25, the next hearing.

The boy, arrested on suspicion of theft, was found hanging in the toilet of the Mallarpur police station on October 30, triggering villagers to accuse cops of custodial death.

The division bench also asked Birbhum district superintendent of police to set up child-friendly corners in every police station under his jurisdiction.

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The court said, “The Superintendent of Police is directed to ensure that the child friendly corner at every police station within his jurisdiction is restored or set up within a fortnight from date, and all facilities and arrangements including deployment of SJPUs are regularised and maintained. It is again unfortunate that there is no female police officer kept in the juvenile protection unit or child friendly corner, and the entire so-called child friendly corner is taken care of by a civic volunteer who does not have any role nor owe any allegiance to the provisions of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act.”
 

• calcutta high court
• custodial death
• minor
• birbhum
• west bengal