Increase in instances of custodial deaths, torture

The instances of deaths and torture in police custody are increasing in the country, if one goes by the number of complaints reaching the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Already, 88 instances of custodial deaths and 293 cases of custodial torture this fiscal till October have been reported to the NHRC and if the trend continues, it could surpass the figures of the past three fiscals.

According to official statistics, there were 140 cases of deaths in police custody in 2013-14, which came down slightly to 130 in the next fiscal. However, the number increased to 153 in the last fiscal. Similarly, the cases of torture in police custody increased from 303 in 2013-14 to 431 in 2014-15 and 493 in 2015-16. A close look at the statistics showed that Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have higher number of custodial deaths, while Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana account for the largest chunk of cases of custodial torture.

This fiscal, Maharashtra saw the highest number of custodial deaths reported in the country at 14, followed by Gujarat and Assam at eight each. The trend was the same for the previous fiscals also. Totally, 47 people were killed in police custody between April and June this year across the country, while 41 people lost their lives in the next four months.

Though all deaths may not be due to torture and several could be due to natural causes, there is a view among activists that in several cases, if people in custody are given adequate medical attention, they could have stayed alive.

On custodial torture, Uttar Pradesh has the worst track record, topping the list in custodial torture in all the fiscals since 2013-14. Between April and October this year, Uttar Pradesh has already reported 154 cases of torture, and if this rate continues, it could easily surpass 2015-16 figure of 246 and 145 in 2014-15.