Nodeep Kaur's Bail Plea Alleges Custodial Violence, Police Calls Claims "Baseless"

Nodeep Kaur bail plea: Submitting her bail plea to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, arrested labour activist and Dalit campaigner Nodeep Kaur claimed she was "beaten black and blue" in Haryana Police custody. Medical reports of her co-accused and activist Shiv Kumar, who is also in custody, indicate multiple injuries and signs of abuse.

Kaur, a 23-year-old Dalit labourer, was arrested at Singhu Border on January 12 with charges including extortion, rioting with weapons, hurting a public servant and others levelled against her. She was granted bail in two out of three cases against her and remains at Karnal jail, Haryana.

The Haryana police have refuted allegations of violence against Kaur "false" and "baseless." The police stated that Kaur gave a written statement to the female doctor against medical examination and reportedly also did not mention assault before the judge prior to being remanded.

Nodeep Kaur Bail Plea Claims Case Against Her "False"

Kaur in her bail plea says she has been "falsely arraigned" in the FIRs and was arrested from Singhu "in the absence of any woman police official." The hearing on her bail plea is scheduled for February 26.

Kaur's family had, in the aftermath of her arrest, claimed, "She has been beaten up in the police station by male staff and has even been sexually assaulted. There are injuries in her private parts." The Punjab and Haryana HC had issued a notice to the state government after complaints received over the "illegal confinement" of Kaur.

Nodeep Kaur bail plea to be heard on February 26

A medical examination of Kumar, Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan president, meanwhile shows signs of injuries on his hand and foot that are "more than two weeks old," as per Indian Express. Kumar has alleged that following his arrest on January 16, he was assaulted by "about seven people."

His psychiatric evaluation, in reports by Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Chandigarh, states, “He appeared sad and distressed, with occasional crying spells... reported predominant anxiety symptoms, flashbacks of brutality meted out to him, nightmares."