Gujarat government, DGP get legal notices over police personnel publicly flogging minority community members

Convenor of the Minority Coordination Committee Mujahid Nafees issued contempt notices to the officers after some policemen were seen publicly flogging the accused in Undhela village in Kheda.

A voluntary organisation in Gujarat has sent legal notices to the State Chief Secretary and Director General of Police after some police personnel publicly flogged a few members of a minority community accused of stone-pelting during a garba dance event, in Kheda district.

Convenor of the Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Mujahid Nafees issued contempt notices to the officers after some policemen were seen publicly flogging the accused in Undhela village in Kheda on Tuesday.

Through the legal notice dated on October 6, the MCC has urged the State government to take "appropriate and suitable Departmental-, disciplinary-, punitive- and criminal action against the erring police officials forthwith who have openly violated all rights of the victims by way of public flogging".

Mr. Nafees said if no action is initiated, he will be constrained to initiate suitable legal action against the erring police officials and the respondents.

"Those who were flogged belong to the minority Muslim community. Despite the atrocity at the behest of the police personnel having been widely reported, no action has been taken/initiated till date in complete violation of all rights of those flogged," stated the legal notice, sent through lawyer Anand Yagnik.

"Such open and brazen violation is not only against the protected right under Article 21, but against the whole constitutional spirit of a civilised society," it further stated.