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Africans Are Our Friends: Punjab & Haryana HC Directs Police Not To Use Racist Term for African National

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The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday directs police authorities not to use a racial slur against African nationals. The police had used the racially offensive slur in challan papers while referring to an African national before the trial court in a Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case.

The Single Judge bench of Justice Rajiv Narain Raina has asked the Punjab Director General of Police to notify instructions in order to ensure that offensive terms are not used while referring to black people in case papers.

“I am appalled to find the term ‘Nigro’ used while referring to an African national in the challan papers presented under Section 173 Cr.P.C before the trial court in an NDPS case. This is a highly offensive word across the globe and no one has any business to use it, and much less the police. Hence, it is directed never to use the unprintable word in any police document including in challans or anywhere else on case papers including in investigation reports.” held Justice Raina.

The court observed that it was “terrible thinking” on the part of police to have assumed that “every black is a drug peddler” and that visitors from the continent much be treated with dignity and respect.

“This brings shame to India and hatred for the country. The police appears to have assumed that every black is a drug peddler and should be treated as such. This is terrible thinking.” the court said.

The order said that “All Africans are our friends & when they come to India either as visitors or students they are our valuable guests & we should be reminded that India is rich in its traditions of ‘mehman nawazi’ & ‘attithi sanskar/satkar’ & prides itself on this”.

The Court has directed that it should be informed of the action proposed in the above regard on next hearing date June, 18.

Read Order:

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