The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has taken *suo motu* cognizance of a media report detailing the illegal detention and physical torture of a journalist by the Rajkot Crime Branch police in Gujarat.
**Incident Details**
According to a media report published on March 29, 2026, a journalist who operates an online media outlet was unlawfully apprehended on March 22, 2026. The journalist was allegedly subjected to severe physical torture, including being stripped naked and suspended upside down, resulting in serious injuries. He was admitted to Rajkot Civil Hospital on March 23, 2026. The report further alleges that police personnel threatened hospital staff against admitting the victim and threatened the journalist with false criminal charges and the demolition of his home.
**Commission Actions and Requirements**
The NHRC has observed that these allegations, if true, constitute a serious violation of human rights. Consequently, the Commission has issued a formal notice to the Director General of Police (DGP), Gujarat, requiring the following:
* **Submission Deadline:** A detailed report must be submitted within two weeks.
* **Report Contents:** The report must include the current status of the investigation and a detailed update on the victim’s health condition.
**Reference Information**
* **Release Date:** 08 APR 2026
* **Issuing Authority:** PIB Delhi / NHRC, India
* **Release ID:** 2250137
* **Location of Incident:** Rajkot, Gujarat
Key Entities Referenced
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC): The statutory body that took suo motu cognizance of the reported human rights violations and issued a notice for a detailed investigation.
Rajkot Crime Branch police: The law enforcement unit in Gujarat accused of the illegal detention, physical torture, and threatening of a journalist.
Director General of Police (DGP), Gujarat: The high-ranking official directed by the NHRC to submit a detailed report regarding the investigation and the victim's health status.
Rajkot, Gujarat: The central location where the alleged illegal detention and torture of the journalist by the local police occurred.
National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the
reported illegal detention and torture of a
journalist by the Rajkot Crime Branch police in
Gujarat
Issues notice to State DGP, calling for a detailed report on the
matter within two weeks
The report to include the status of health of the victim and
investigation
Posted On: 08 APR 2026 5:31PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report
that on 22nd March, 2026, a journalist was apprehended in an unlawful manner by the Rajkot Crime
Branch police in Gujarat. The journalist was stripped naked, suspended upside down and subjected to
physical torture resulting in serious injuries to him. Reportedly, the police tried to threaten the Rajkot Civil
Hospital staff against admitting the victim. He was also threatened that false criminal cases would be
registered against him and his house would be demolished.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of human
rights violations of the victim. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Director General of Police, Gujarat,
calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks, including the present status of the
investigation and the health of the victim.
According to the media report, carried on 29th March, 2026, the journalist operates an online media outlet.
The report has also revealed extensive details of the injuries caused to him in police torture. He was
admitted to the Rajkot Civil Hospital the next day on 23rd March, 2026.
***
NSK
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