Chapter - 4 CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS A. Custodial Violence and Torture 4.1 Custodial violence is a calculated assault on human dignity. The NHRC during the period under review remained actively engaged in its efforts to bring to an end the egregious violations of human rights that result in custodial deaths. A systematic effort to curb custodial violence has been a major priority of the Commission. In accordance with its guidelines issued from time to time, the agencies of the States/Union Territories have, by and large, been found to be prompt in informing the Commission, within 24 hours, of any occurrence of a death in custody. However, the subsequent reports like inquest report, post-mortem report, magisterial enquiry report, etcetera are not being received expeditiously in many cases. 4.2 It is pertinent to note that not all cases of custodial deaths can be attributed to custodial violence. The prime cause for many of these deaths is on account of natural reasons such as long-lasting illness, old age and other debilitating factors. The other causes could be due to violence between prisoners, suicide and medical negligence. 4.3 During the year under review, 1,574 cases of custodial deaths were reported to the Commission. Out of these, 1,426 cases were related to deaths in judicial custody, 146 cases pertained to deaths in police custody and two cases pertained to deaths in the custody of defence/para-military forces. Details of some of the important cases of custodial deaths dealt with by the Commission are given below : a) Custodial Deaths Judicial Custody 1. Death of Undertrial Prisoner Ramsingh Udasingh Ravana in Bharuch Sub-Jail, Gujarat (Case No. 524/6/5/07-08-JCD) 4.4 The Superintendent of Police, Bharuch, Gujarat sent an intimation dated 12 October 2007 to the Commission about the death of one undertrial prisoner on 11 October 2007 who was in the custody of Bharuch Sub-Jail in Gujarat. The name of the undertrial prisoner was Ramsingh Udasingh Ravana and he was about 30 years old. The deceased was brought to Bharuch Sub-Jail from Dahanu Sub-Jail in Maharashtra, in a private car by the Maharashtra police on 11 October 2007 around 9 a.m. along with three other accused. NHRC 19