Agartala: Tripura high court has directed the installation of CCTV cameras in all police stations and outposts across the state to protect detainees from custodial abuse and coercive interrogation.The order was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice M S Ramachandra Rao and Justice Biswajit Palit, relying on the Supreme Court’s judgment in Paramvir Singh v Baljit Singh on safeguards for detainees in police custody.
The order was issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice M S Ramachandra Rao and Justice Biswajit Palit, relying on the Supreme Court’s judgment in Paramvir Singh v Baljit Singh on safeguards for detainees in police custody
The directive came during the hearing of a petition filed by Saikat Saha of Banamalipur, who alleged that he was sexually assaulted and physically mistreated at the East Agartala police station on April 4.The bench examined CCTV footage from the police station while hearing Saha’s case. The alleged assault took place in connection with a complaint lodged by the Agartala Municipal Corporation, which Saha claimed was fabricated.The court also referred to a separate incident at the Airport police station, where CCTV footage was unavailable for investigation. It termed the absence of recordings a serious violation of established safeguards and detainees’ security.Following the Supreme Court’s directions, the High Court ordered comprehensive CCTV coverage of police station entrances and exits, detention rooms, corridors, reception areas, administrative offices, restrooms and the surrounding perimeter.The officer in charge of each police station will be responsible for the proper functioning and maintenance of the surveillance equipment, the court directed.Civil rights organisations and citizen groups welcomed the ruling. The police, however, declined to comment on the judgment and said, “We are committed to complying with the court order.”
