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Eminent lawyer Abha Singh on Tuesday filed a complaint before Maharashtra State Commission for Women, alleging human rights violation in the arrest of two girls who wrote comments on Facebook in regard to shutdown in the city for the funeral of Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray.
Describing the arrest of Shaheen Dhada and Renu Shrinivas as gross violation of human rights, Singh, the wife of Indian Police Service officer-turned-lawyer Y P Singh, demanded that the State Women's Commission should visit the concerned police station, inspect the case diaries and inquire into the matter.
"The manner in which the girls were arrested clearly indicates that there has been gross violation of human rights as well as Supreme Court directives for affecting arrests," said Singh who lodged complaint with the Women's Commission in suburban Bandra.
Normally, in serious cases such as dacoity, murder, robbery and rape, an accused can be arrested if he is likely to abscond or evade the process of law or if he indulges in violent behaviour or is a habitual offender. "But none of these conditions are applicable to this case," she said.
According to Singh, the girls had not committed any offence at all and it appears that the police had acted under the pressure of local politicians.
"The liberty of the two girls was seriously breached just because they were invoking their fundamental rights guaranteed by article 19 of the Constitution," she said.