A complaint has been filed before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) alleging custodial violence, public humiliation, and gross violation of fundamental rights by the Premnagar Police Station in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

The complaint, filed by Advocate Sudeep Chandra, pertains to the alleged treatment of two individuals who were apprehended and subsequently paraded barefoot through public areas, allegedly subjected to physical assault and exposed to mob aggression. The complaint asserts that such actions violate constitutional guarantees, including the presumption of innocence and protection of human dignity.

It is alleged that the victims were forcibly marched for a considerable distance, assaulted with lathis, and publicly humiliated without any resistance or threat on their part. The complaint further states that the police failed to protect them from a hostile crowd, thereby enabling mob participation and “collective punishment,” which is incompatible with due process and custodial safeguards.

The complaint also highlights that the incident was recorded and widely circulated on social media, leading to reputational harm and psychological trauma. It relies on Supreme Court precedents, including D.K. Basu v. State of West Bengal and Joginder Kumar v. State of Uttar Pradesh, to argue that such conduct amounts to a direct violation of established safeguards against custodial abuse.

Invoking provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Uttarakhand Police Act, the complaint seeks immediate intervention, including suspension of the police personnel involved, registration of FIRs, and a time-bound independent inquiry. It also calls for issuance of guidelines prohibiting public parading and humiliation of accused persons, and protection of the victims and their families.