Taking a stern view of the alleged misuse of official power and intimidation of citizens, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of a complaint filed by Guwahati-based Human Rights Defender, Dr. Monojit Singha.
The Commission has characterized the allegations as “serious violations of Human Rights” and has issued a directive to the Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), New Delhi, demanding an Action Taken Report (ATR) within a strict two-week deadline.
The case (Case No. 56/3/24/2026) stems from an incident that occurred on August 7, 2025, at New Colony, Pandu, Guwahati. According to the complaint, Abhijit Naug, Senior Section Engineer (Works/West/Pandu), N.F. Railway, accompanied by uniformed RPF personnel, descended upon the residence of Dr. Singha’s parents. The officials allegedly conducted an unauthorized neighborhood interrogation, spreading suspicion and causing severe mental distress to Dr. Singha’s elderly parents.
The complainant stated that this heavy-handed action was carried out without any official complaint, FIR, written notice, or coordination with the local jurisdictional civil police. Dr. Singha, who has a long record of voluntarily supporting railway welfare and public safety awareness initiatives, alleged that this visit was an act of open victimization and retaliation for his role as a whistleblower. Over the past few years, he has actively raised concerns and supported citizens’ complaints regarding a widespread illegal railway quarter-rent racket and rampant land encroachments under the SSE’s jurisdiction in Pandu. Notably, these security lapses previously came to light when state police arrested members of banned organizations from illegally occupied railway quarters in the area.
Despite formal representations sent by Dr. Singha in August 2025 to the Chief Security Commissioner and Principal Chief Security Commissioner of N.F. Railway, Maligaon, the railway security authorities maintained a deliberate silence, prompting him to approach the apex human rights body.
Perusing the petition, the NHRC Law Division bench headed by Deputy Registrar (Law) Sparsh Agarwal observed that the high-handedness of the railway officials constitutes a serious infringement on a citizen’s right to life with dignity. The Commission’s directive has bypassed local channels, forcing the highest echelons of the RPF command in New Delhi to directly investigate the nexus between local railway engineering officials and unauthorized security deployments.
Dr. Singha has welcomed the apex body’s swift intervention, stating that it reinforces the protection of anti-corruption activists and whistleblowers who risk their personal safety to protect public assets.
NHRC Takes Cognizance of Complaint Against Railway Officials, Terms Alleged Intimidation a Serious Human Rights Violation
