ગુજરાતી
English
Warrant against Chief Secretary, Jumped from Kutch police station
Dilip Patel
Ahmedabad, June 23, 2026
Fearing police action, an innocent youth of Gandhidham jumped from the roof of A Division police station, due to which he suffered serious injuries.
In September 2021, a young man named Damji Siju (Maheshwari), who was detained by the police in connection with a crime, was beaten and subjected to physical and mental torture at the A Division police station.
Officially registered deaths in police custody are around 14-15 every year, but human rights activists say that not all cases of police beating or torture are registered as FIRs or human rights cases. In many cases, the truth comes out only after CCTV, medical evidence and judicial investigation.
Official Human Rights Statistics (Gujarat) for 2024–25
Total cases or complaints before GSHRC: 2,583
Cases disposed: 2,016
Deaths in police custody: 14
Deaths in jail custody: 79
Total custodial deaths: 93
Gujarat State Human Rights Commission
According to the commission’s annual report for 2024–25:
Maximum 543 cases were registered in Ahmedabad city.
Custodial deaths are one of the most serious signs of human rights violations.
In Gujarat during 2024–25:
Total 93 custodial deaths
79 were registered in jail custody
14 in police custody
Ahmedabad city alone recorded 27 custodial deaths, the highest in the state.
Before Gujarat State Police Complaints Authority (GSPCA):
In the last two years, 2,510 complaints were filed against the police.
2,494 complaints were resolved.
Case of torture of minor in police custody in Rajkot.
Notice to DGP in case of illegal detention and alleged torture of journalist.
Summons to Collector and SP in case of death of laborers in Kutch.
Important issue for journalism
Custodial deaths due to
police atrocities
dalit and tribal atrocities
Violation of rights of women and children
Workers’ deaths and industrial accidents
Bulldozer/displacement action
Prisoners’ rights cases
Accurate statewide figures of torture (custodial torture) in police stations in Gujarat are not published separately, but data on complaints against the police, Human Rights Commission cases and deaths in police custody give an idea of the situation. 2500 complaints are made but if we estimate the actual cases of police beatings and atrocities, we can estimate 10 times this, i.e. 25 thousand incidents of beatings. Those who do not complain and get beaten.
Custodial deaths in police and prisons
2023-24 15 deaths in police station 70 deaths in jail 85
2024-25 14 deaths in police custody 79 deaths in jail 93
District wise deaths in police custody in 2024-25
Ahmedabad city – 3
Rajkot city – 3
Surat City – 2
Ahmedabad Rural – 2
Rajkot Rural – 1
Surat Rural – 1
Scattered cases in other districts
complaints against police
Before Gujarat State Police Complaints Authority (GSPCA):
2,510 complaints in the last two years
These complaints include issues like police beating, abuses, illegal detention, misbehavior in custody.
A petition was filed in the Gujarat High Court against 9 police officers alleging custodial torture and public humiliation.
The Human Rights Commission had recommended compensation and action in the case of death of a youth after police interrogation in Botad.
The youth from Kutch had suffered serious life-threatening injuries to his head and spinal cord. The victim was admitted to the hospital by the police in a very critical condition.
In this case, the National Human Rights Commission had issued a bailable warrant against the Chief Secretary of the Gujarat government for non-compliance of the previous order to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
The justice achieved after years of struggle shows that the fight for the rights of a common citizen can be successful and the responsible system will have to answer before the law. This order came into effect after the strict stance of the National Human Rights Commission.
The Home Department found a solution within 24 hours and compensation was also given the next day.
There was panic after bailable warrant was issued against the Chief Secretary in the Gandhidham case.
The victim youth Damji Siju was given compensation within a few hours.
The person fighting the case is Dr. Ramesh L., a social worker from Bhuj. Is Garva. 
The Chief Secretary had to suffer for a long time due to the irresponsibility of the local officials who did not follow the orders and instructions of the Commission for a long time.
This not only provided justice to a family, but also provided an important example of the effectiveness of a human rights organization.
This incident has further strengthened the faith of the people in the National Human Rights Commission and the constitutional structure of the country.
Within a single day, the Home Department found the necessary solution and the East Kutch Police transferred Rs 5 lakh to the youth’s bank account the next day by nightfall.
In 2021, the commission conducted an investigation based on a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission.
The investigation held the state government responsible for negligence in maintaining the security of a person in police custody and recommended compensation to the heirs.
The National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi had ordered a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the Chief Secretary of the state.
Go to the commission of District Magistrate of Kutch, Co-Collector and Superintendent of Police of East Kutch.
The department stated in its submitted report that the individual is severely disabled due to the injuries sustained.
The State is responsible for the safety of a person in police custody.
Human Rights
Supreme Court orders filing of affidavit
The Supreme Court had summoned the State’s Chief Secretary, Manoj Kumar Das, for failing to file an affidavit regarding the stray dog issue.
Parliament
Details
According to data presented in Parliament based on NHRC figures, there were 85 cases of custodial death in Gujarat between April 1, 2021, and March 15, 2026.
2021-22: 24
2022-23: 15
2023-24: 18
2024-25: 14
2025-26 (up to March 15): 14
Estimated 10-year picture
The state government does not release consolidated “police custody + jail custody” data annually; however, based on data from the GSHRC, NHRC, and Parliament, it can be estimated that there have been over 100 deaths in police custody and over 700 in jail custody, resulting in a total of more than 800 custodial deaths over a 10-year period. Meanwhile, the number of complaints against the police over these 10 years could range between 10,000 and 15,000. (Translated from Gujaratii; please refer to the original report.)
