AMBALA: An incident of  violation of Human Rights  came to light  on Tuesday when the police in utter disrespect of Supreme Court directions had chained to bed an under trial pregnant woman lodged in the prisoner ward of civil hospital here.

The woman prisoner subjected to inhuman treatment by police was carrying three and half month's pregnancy. Whereas there are clear cut and strict directions laid down by Supreme Court that no prisoner or under trail can be hand cuffed without the prior permission of the local court when taken out to produce in the court or taken somewhere else by the police.

According to information Madhu (28) a resident of Ambala City was arrested by the Ambala police on charge of abducting a minor girl Ruby (13), who had been missing for last two months. One of her relative had lodged a complaint with the police that Madhu has taken Ruby along with her somewhere without their knowledge. The police had also registered a case in this regard.

On a tip off the police had arrested  Madhu and Ruby on August 1 from Delhi. The police handed over Ruby to her relatives whereas Madhu was produced in the local court which remanded her to judicial custody for 14 days. Madhu complained of stomach pain in the jail on August 2. Talking to the news men she disclosed in the hospital that the female prisoners in the jail had beaten her mercilessly.

The jail Superintendent SPS Chauhan declined the allegations saying no such incident happened in the jail. He said that as she complained the stomach pain she was brought to the local civil hospital.

It is to be mentioned that generally the police handcuff the hardcore criminal with the permission of the court but in this case Madhu was arrested in a minor offence and moreover the police had not procured any permission from the court to handcuff her.

The lady doctor attended her on August 2 and  advised to conduct her ultrasound to verify the pregnancy period but it was conducted today only through a private ultrasound center. Principal Medical Officer of the civil hospital confirmed that the woman prisoner conceived three and a half month pregnancy.

To a surprise only a few months back the hospital authorities have arranged a private radiologist on the contract basis but it could not continue for long whereas  Ambala City civil hospital has the ultrasound machine but the post of radiologist is lying vacant for last 4 years. The patients have to go to private ultrasound centers.

When the matter was brought in the notice of a senior police officer  the woman was released of the handcuffs. On contacting  Sibash Kabiraj,SP, Ambala he assured that an inquiry has been ordered into the matter and investigation would also be initiated teaming up with the of jail authorities in the allegations of thrashing made by the woman inmate in the jail.