Question : Violence against Civilians by Police

(a) whether the Government has taken note of various reports of police violence against civilians in enforcing COVID lockdowns;

(b) if so, the details thereof, action taken against offending officers and if not, reasons therefore, State and UT-wise;

(c) whether there has been a sharp increase in the incidents of custodial deaths and torture in police custody in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof, action taken against offending officers and if not, reasons therefore, State and UT-wise;

(e) whether there is a large number of unreported cases of custodial violence and sexual harassment in the country;

(f) if so, the details of measures being taken to improve reporting;

(g) whether the effectiveness of sensitization exercises for the police is being measured in any way; and

(h) if so, the details thereof and if not, reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (b): As per seventh schedule to the Constitution of India, ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are state subjects and the responsibilities of maintaining law and order, including investigation, registration/prosecution of crimes,
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L.S.US.Q. NO.2433 FOR 03.08.2021
conviction of accused, protection of life and property etc. rest primarily with the respective State Governments. Such information is not being maintained separately.
(c ) to (d): Based on the information received from National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the details of reported incidents of deaths and torture in Police Custody during the three years are as under:-
Item 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21
Deaths in Police Custody 136 112 100
Torture in Police Custody 542 411 236
TOTAL 678 523 336

As per information made available by NHRC no such increase has been noticed.

(e) to (f): As per seventh schedule to the Constitution of India, Police and Public Order are state subjects and the State Governments are empowered to deal with such offences which come to their notice as per the extant provisions of the law.

(g) to (h): Sensitization exercise for the police on various aspects of the law is an ongoing process.
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