Rail police under fire over arrest of former boxer

MUMBAI: The Dignity Foundation has criticised the railway police for not informing them or other non-government organisations (NGOs) about the arrest of Aspi Irani (71), former national level boxer. He was arrested for allegedly travelling in a ladies compartment in a Western Railway local on September 20.
Mr Irani’s arrest has generated a controversy following allegations by social activists that he was ill-treated by the police.One accusation against the police is that they failed to inform the Irani family about his arrest. Since he could not pay the fine of Rs 500, he had to languish in jail for a week.
He was not even allowed to contact his family. Expressing shock over the incident, Dignity Foundation president Sheilu Srinivasan said since members of her organisation interacted with the police on a regular basis, they could have helped the police trace the family. The foundation has been assisting senior citizens in distress, and its volunteers are called by the police every time they come across such cases. “It is strange why the police did not inform us or take the help of a counsellor,’’ she said, adding that the foundation would raise the issue with the police top brass.
Ms Srinivasan also suggested that the police conduct workshops for its officials on dealing with citizens in general. Meanwhile, assistant commissioner of police R.M. Pargunde began his probe into the incident and has started recording statements of the persons who were arrested along with Mr Irani for the same offence. One of the offenders told him that the police had allowed him to call up his family and he was released after paying the Rs 500 fine. Speaking to this newspaper,Mr Pargunde maintained that there was neither any fault on the part of the police nor any malafide intention.
Any person who is arrested is entitled to judicial assistance, medical check-up and allowed to contact a family member. The police have claimed that Mr Irani had undergone a medical test before being produced before the magistrate. Admitting that the police did not inform any NGO about Mr Irani’s arrest, Mr Pargunde said he would inquire into it. He, however, said interaction between the railway police and NGOs like Dignity was minimal. Meanwhile, among the questions Mr Irani’s arrest has raised is if a senior citizen should be booked for a minor offence like this. Mr Pargunde, however, said the police could not discriminate between offenders. “If we let go one offender, the others take objection and demand that they too be released,’’ he explained.
Besides, an advocate pointed out, in cases of men travelling in women’s compartment, the prosecution normally relies on the statements of the police witnesses or a railway officer. Seldom are the statements of women commuters or others recorded. According to Mr Pargunde, it is not practical to record the statements of fellow commuters since they are often unwilling to give statements.
Call Dignity Citizens can contact Dignity Foundation’s helpline over phone no 389 8078 to lodge a complaint, for counselling or any other assistance. The helpline is attended by counsellors and social workers between 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m from Monday to Friday. The foundation’s office telephone number is 384 1845.