The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a report from the DGP of West Bengal based on a complaint by an NGO about the arrest of law student Sharmishta Panoli by the Kolkata Police.

Following a strong statement issued by the Bar Council of India condemning the arrest, the Bar Council of Delhi had also come out in her support, terming the arrest “selective, excessive, and politically motivated,” and demanding her immediate release.

Sharmishta Panoli, a resident of Kolkata, who is studying law in a college in Pune, was arrested on Friday for allegedly making provocative statements concerning Operation Sindoor on social media. An FIR was lodged at Garden Reach Police Station in Kolkata, and a Court in Alipore remanded her to 14 days' custody.

Legal Rights Observatory (LRO), a legal advocacy group, filed a complaint before the NHRC stating that Sharmishta has received large number of death and rape threats even though she is in custody. The NGO has also alleged that due procedure was not followed while arresting her from Gurgaon.

"The complaint alleges that proper legal procedures were not followed during her arrest and transit. It also states that the girl has received threats from radical islamists, including rape and death threats", NHRC Member Priyank Kanoongo told media.

The NHRC has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary and DGP of West Bengal, directing them to ensure her safety, especially as she is now in judicial custody.

"Additionally, we have sought clarification from the Haryana government on whether all legal protocols were followed. Based on the responses, we will decide the next course of action", Kanoongo added.

The NHRC Member said that NHRC has called for a report within ten days.

In the statement dated June 1, the Chairman of the Bar Council of India said, “I stand firmly with Sharmistha Panoli, whose arrest and judicial custody for a now-deleted social media video – despite her immediate apology – represents an absolute failure of justice and a blatant assault on freedom of expression. The Bengal government and Kolkata Police have once again proved their pattern of excessive, selective, and politically motivated action, targeting individuals from particular communities while ignoring or even shielding far more egregious acts by others.”

The Bar Council of Delhi said in its press release of today, "The high-handedness and unnecessary haste shown by the Kolkata Police in arresting Ms. Sharmistha Panoli, as if she was a criminal, shows the selective, excessive and politically motivated action of Kolkata Police, which no doubt, [was] done at the behest of West Bengal Government.”

National Human Rights Commission

Verdictum News Desk