The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has acknowledged a complaint regarding the alleged use of excessive force by the Punjab Police on sanitation workers protesting in Barnala. The workers were advocating for service regularisation, wage enhancement, and job security. The NHRC Bench, led by Member Priyank Kanoongo, has summoned the Punjab Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police to investigate the matter and provide a detailed report within two weeks under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
The complaint highlighted that the sanitation workers, including women, were peacefully demonstrating in Barnala on July 25 when the police reportedly conducted a lathi-charge, infringing upon their right to peaceful assembly and grievance redressal. The complainant has urged the NHRC to intervene by conducting an independent inquiry, sharing medical details of the injured workers, ensuring compensation for the victims, and taking disciplinary and legal actions against the responsible officials.
If the allegations are substantiated, the NHRC emphasized that there could be potential violations of the human rights of the affected individuals. The NHRC has requested the Punjab government to furnish a comprehensive report encompassing various aspects of the incident, including the rationale behind the lathi-charge, the authority sanctioning the use of force, and any relevant written orders.
The NHRC has also demanded information on the number of injured sanitation workers, the nature and status of their injuries, as well as the provision of medical records such as medico-legal certificates, casualty reports, and treatment documents. Additionally, the NHRC seeks clarification on the absence of medical legal certificates, any compensation granted to the injured workers, and the existence of any legal actions or inquiries initiated in response to the episode.
