Delhi
High Court tells Delhi Police to stop unnecessary harassment and
unwarranted interrogations in wake of Tibetan Protests, Government
assures immediate release of all arrested/ detained Tibetans
29.03.2012/ New Delhi
During the recent visit of Chinese Premier to New Delhi for BRICS
Summit on 29/29.03.12, Delhi Police unleashed panic and caused
harassment of Tibetans and Indians from North East India, who resembles
like Tibetans and subjected several people to unwarranted
interrogations. Around 200 Tibetans were sent behind the bars on mere
suspicion. Lawyers from HRLN were flooded with requests for help and
when these lawyers tried to get in touch with the detained Tibetans,
police stations denied access and refused to share any information about
charges.
On 29.03.12, Acting Chief Justice Arjun Sikri of Hon’ble Delhi High
Court was informed about such indiscriminate action of police by way of
oral mentioning in the open Court and Counsel for Delhi Police was
immediately called to answer the complaint. Lawyers from HRLN, Advocate
Svetlana Sandra Correya and Advocate Tsering C. who had themselves faced
difficulty in extending legal assistance to arrested persons and had
faced unnecessary interrogation at the hand of police also appeared
before Hon’ble High Court and narrated their experiences.
Keeping in view the urgency and on the assurance that all 198 arrested/
detained Tibetans will be released on 30.02.12 latest by 10:45 AM,
Hon’ble High Court passed an order, observing that:
No doubt, the police and other authorities including FRRO, as
and when suspect any law and order situation, are entitled to take
remedial/ preventive measures. At the same time it is also the duty of
the police not to put anybody to unnecessary harassment and unwarranted
interrogations. The aforesaid order is in respect of 197 Tibetans and
other Tibetans; therefore persons from North East or Ladakh cannot be
subjected to any interrogation / detention pursuant thereto.
On the request of Lawyers, Hon’ble Court has also granted liberty to
present a Petition to ensure that these kinds of incidents are not
repeated in future. Commenting on this development, Sethu Das, President
of prominent Tibet Support Group “Friends of Tibet” has said:
“We thank entire team of lawyers for taking this issue to a
very logical conclusion. This unique court order will also have a
lasting impact on all political activities in future by the exile
community members.”
Soon a comprehensive petition will be presented before Hon’ble Court
seeking remedies against re-occurrence of such violations in future.
For further details, Please contact:
Advocate Anant Asthana
Human Rights Law Network
Email: anant.asthana@hrln.org/ litigation.delhi@hrln.org
Advocate Anant Asthana
Human Rights Law Network
Email: anant.asthana@hrln.org/ litigation.delhi@hrln.org
