GANDHINAGAR: According to data provided by the Union government in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, February 8, there has been a steady rise in deaths of persons in police custody in the past three years.
Replying to a question, the union government stated that 12 deaths in police custody were reported in Gujarat in 2019-20, which rose to 17 in 2020-21 and 24 in 2021-22. Across the country, the number of persons who died in police custody rose from 100 in 2020-21 to 175 in 2021-22.
The question was asked by Rajya Sabha member Phulo Devi Netam, seeking data on all deaths in police custody over the past five years. She also sought to know the status of their investigations and payment of compensation in these cases, apart from asking what steps the government intends to take to eliminate custodial torture and deaths.
In the reply, the Union minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai said financial relief worth Rs 5.80 crore has been granted to victims in 201 cases, while disciplinary action has been taken in one case.
He added that police and public order are state subjects and the central government issues advisories from time to time, asking states to protect human rights.
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