•
In the first entry, the officer notes that the prisoner reported he was assaulted by the
police, that he wishes to take legal action against the relevant police authority and
that he requires medical attention. The Receiving Jailor notes the injuries he can
observe and mentions the injuries he cannot discern visibly. This is followed by
remarks of the CJ and SP/ASP, who would order the inmate to be sent to National
Hospital (hereinafter referred to as NH) in order for the police post to be notified by
the NH and to inform in writing to the SP of the relevant police area where the alleged
assault had occurred.
•
In the second entry, the Receiving Jailor notes that the prisoner reports having been
assaulted by the police but does not wish to take legal action, and requests medical
treatment. The Receiving Jailor notes the visible injuries and the CJ and SP/APS follow
up with an order to send the inmate to Prison Hospital (hereinafter referred to as PH)
for medical treatment.
•
In the third entry, the jailor writes, in a separate sheet of paper, which was attached
to the assault book, that he had observed a large fresh injury on the face of a prisoner
and inquires whether he was assaulted by the police. Since the inmate responded that
he was not assaulted by the police, the Receiving Jailor writes the responses of the
inmate in a question and answer format. The jailor also notes that the injury looks
severe and recommends treatment, which is followed by the CJ and the SP/ASP
ordering the inmate to be sent to the PH for treatment.
Moreover, it was noted at WCP that the entries made in the Assault Book distinguished
between police beatings and non-police beatings. For example, closing entries made in the
Assault Book at the end of the day by the Receiving Jailor state, “no police assault or other
kinds of assaults reported by new entrants today”. Similarly, in NRP, the Receiving Jailor
maintains two separate books, one to enter police assault and the other to note other visible
injuries sustained by the new entrant. In the case of non-police assaults, a brief statement is
obtained from the new entrant summarizing the nature and place of assault and whether the
inmate wishes to take an action against the person who assaulted him/her.
However, in prisons other than WCP, the Commission observed that the prison officer does
not conduct a visual or physical examination of the person to ascertain and mark injuries if
the inmate responds that he was not assaulted by the police. This was evident from the
entries in the register maintained by the Receiving Jailor, named the “Assault Book”. The
procedure followed in other prisons to inform the CJ about the reported police assault and
the resultant actions taken by the SP/ASP are similar to the procedure that was observed in
WCP.
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