Human rights activist and executive director of People’s Watch Mr.Henri Tiphagne has strongly objected to the statement of the Tamil Nadu IPS officers’ Association president Mr.Abhash Kumar which said that “there is a media trial going in allegations of custodial violence against suspended IPS officer Balveer Singh and that various vested interests are working in social media to influence evidence, witnesses, investigating agencies and general public” in the recent allegations of custodial torture in Ambasamudram police limits.

(April 5), Henry Tipaghne of human rights advocacy NGO People’s Watch produced the victims and their family members in front of the press in Madurai. The team presented the case of a 17-year-old who was also allegedly tortured.

Henry Tiphagne of People's Watch said each of those who have not been transferred but put on a compulsory wait from Ambasamudram Sub Division are those who were engaged directly in "acts of torture against persons including minors" and further threatened victims and witnesses not to depose by offering them bribes.

"All directly engaged in offences u/s 120 B IPC 201 IPC besides other sections concerning acts of torture, SC/ST POA & JJ Act. How long will the DGP wait?" he asked.

In a press statement, People’s Watch Executive Director Henri Tiphagne said it was an appalling statement in a country where freedom of expression and opinion was upheld as a fundamental right.

He asked what the Association would have to say about police parading ‘alleged criminals’ before the media many times even before an FIR was registered.

பிபிசி தமிழிடம் இந்த விவகாரம் குறித்துப் பேசிய மனித உரிமை செயற்பாட்டாளரும் மக்கள் கண்காணிப்பகம் அமைப்பின் செயல் இயக்குநருமான ஹென்றி டிஃபேன், முதல் முதலாக இந்த பல்பிடுங்கும் குற்றச்சாட்டை பொதுவெளியில் வைத்த ஒருவர் விவகாரத்தில் காவல் நிலையத்தில் இருந்த ரத்தக் கறைகள் கழுவி அகற்றப்பட்டதாகவும், ஆனால், இந்த விவகாரம் குறித்து தனிப்பிரிவு காவலர்கூட எஸ்.பி.க்கு தகவல் தரவில்லையா என்று கேள்வி எழுப்பியிருந்தார்.

Human rights organisations and political parties are demanding that an FIR be filed against IPS officer Singh. Henri Tiphagne, executive director, People’s Watch, said that either the district collector or the superintendent of police should have obtained the CCTV footage of the police station.