A Delhi court has called for an enquiry after a Muslim undertrial person was branded with an Om symbol, allegedly by a Tihar jail superintendent.
Shabbir, an undertrial prisoner at the Tihar jail, told his family that he was branded with an Om symbol and was not fed for two days on April 12.
He said that he was subjected to cruel and inhuman treatment by Rajesh Chauhan, jail superintendent in Bihar Jail.
Justice Richa Parihar took a dim view of the torture by Jail Superintendent and ordered that the 24-year-old Muslim inmate be immediately removed from ‘the direct or indirect supervision of jail superintendent Rajesh Chauhan.’
“The allegations raised by the accused are of serious nature and required immediate intervention… a notice is being issued to DGP, Prisoner, Head Quarter, Jail No. 4, New Delhi to get the medical examination of accused Nabbir conducted with immediate effect and also to make enquiry report regarding the burn imprinted ‘Om’ mark on the person of the accused,” news agency ANI quoted the court order.
News reports are saying that superintendent was angry because Shabbir had made a complaint about the non-functional induction stove in his barracks. Superintendent allegedly physically assaulted him while accusing him of trying to be a leader and raising voices against jail administration.
Shabbir, an under trial in Tihar since December 2017 was also denied food for at least two days. Two days later superintendent Rajesh Chauhan reportedly told Shabbir that he had converted to Hindusim because he had fasted during Navaratri, Janata Ka Reporter reported.
