New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a complaint alleging that the Punjab Police used excessive force and resorted to an unwarranted lathi-charge on sanitation workers, including women, who were protesting in Barnala over service regularisation, wage enhancement and job security. A Bench presided over by Member Priyank Kanoongo has issued notices to the Punjab Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP), directing them to inquire into the allegations and submit a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.

The action has been initiated under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which empowers the apex human rights body to inquire into alleged violations of human rights. According to the complaint, the sanitation workers were peacefully protesting in Barnala on July 25 when the police allegedly resorted to a lathi-charge, violating their fundamental rights to assemble peacefully and seek redressal of their employment-related grievances. The complainant sought the NHRC's intervention by requesting an independent inquiry into the incident, medical details of the injured persons, compensation for the victims, and disciplinary and legal action against the officials responsible.

Observing that the allegations, if true, prima facie disclose violations of the human rights of the victims, the apex human rights body directed the Punjab government to furnish a detailed report covering multiple aspects of the incident. Among other things, the NHRC has sought to know the circumstances and justification for ordering the lathi-charge, the identity of the competent authority that authorised the use of force, and copies of the written orders, if any.

It has also sought details of the number of sanitation workers injured, the nature of their injuries and their present medical condition, besides copies of medico-legal certificates (MLCs), casualty records, treatment documents and other medical records. The apex human rights body has asked the authorities to explain if MLCs were not prepared.

Further, the NHRC has sought information on any compensation or ex gratia assistance provided to the injured workers, along with details of any FIRs, Daily Diary Reports (DDRs), departmental proceedings or criminal cases registered in connection with the incident.

The NHRC has also asked whether any departmental, magisterial or independent inquiry has been ordered and whether the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing police use of force was followed. It has sought copies of relevant records, including video recordings, deployment orders, wireless logbooks and use-of-force reports, besides details of steps taken by the state authorities to prevent recurrence of such incidents and safeguard the rights and dignity of sanitation workers while maintaining public order.

--IANS