Torture Behind Bars: Role of the Police Force in India

While the prohibition of custodial torture is absolute and it applies even during war or other emergency situations, the fact is that custodial torture continues to prevail in today’s times of modernization and globalization. The only thing that has changed with time is the degree of meticulousness and sophistication with which it is practiced today. This work analyses custodial violence, ill-treatment, and crimes committed by the police and armed forces in India. It analyses custodial violence in the light of the reports of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; Committee against Torture; European Commission; Asian Human Rights Commissions; National Human Rights Commission; National Crime Record Bureau; police journals; international and national NGOs; and other international standards. Providing a detailed overview of the Indian police system and examining its structure and functions, the work critically examines the role and accountability of the police in India and lays emphasis on the human rights of citizens referring to the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission for the prevention of custodial violence and protection of victims and their rights.