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Research and Advocacy, Access to Justice, Community DevelopmentCompleted

Public Safety Research and Institutional Accountability

HRPF follows up police-related RTI requests and uses district crime records to support public-safety research and institutional accountability.

Mandi Bahauddin, PunjabRTI follow-up in 2021–2023, crime analysis in 2024 and inquiry follow-up in 2025Communities seeking accountable policing and public safety

In pictures

Newspaper coverage of HRPF requests for district crime information
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About this project

HRPF uses lawful information requests and public-interest research to raise concerns about public safety and institutional accountability in Mandi Bahauddin. Its police-related RTI follow-up includes correspondence from December 2021 and proceedings before the Punjab Information Commission in March 2023. Separately, HRPF prepared an analysis of district crime records for January to August 2024 and shared concerns and recommendations with relevant officials and human-rights organisations.

The challenge

Community concerns about crime and investigations required reliable information and an accountable institutional response.

Our approach

HRPF seeks public information through the Punjab Right to Information framework, follows up with the responsible public information officers and the Punjab Information Commission, and uses available records to prepare public-interest analysis and recommendations.

What we aim to achieve

  • Use district records to inform public-safety advocacy.

What we do

  • Submitted and followed up police-related requests for public information.
  • Pursued an RTI complaint before the Punjab Information Commission in March 2023.
  • Analysed district crime records covering January to August 2024.
  • Shared findings and recommendations with relevant officials and human-rights organisations.
  • Requested follow-up on a police inquiry report in February 2025.

Results and lasting change

  • Police correspondence and Information Commission orders document the RTI follow-up process.
  • District crime analysis was prepared and communicated.
  • The available records do not confirm compliance with every information request or implementation of the recommended policing reforms.

From plans to progress

Project timeline

  1. 30 December 2021

    Police response correspondence

    The District Police Officer informed the Central Police Office that a reply had already been sent on 21 December. The enclosed reply is not included in the available material.

  2. 3 March 2023

    RTI complaint registered

    The Punjab Information Commission registered the complaint and directed the police and traffic information officers to provide information or explain any lawful exemption.

  3. 17 March 2023

    Request forwarded for response

    The Central Police Office forwarded the information request to the District Police Officer, Mandi Bahauddin.

  4. 20 March 2023

    Fresh notice issued

    The Commission requested certified information within seven working days and scheduled further proceedings for 5 April 2023.

  5. 2024

    District crime analysis

    HRPF prepared and shared analysis of district crime records covering January to August 2024.

  6. 5 February 2025

    Police inquiry follow-up requested

    HRPF wrote to the Inspector General of Punjab Police asking for action on the inquiry report referred to in its representation. Subsequent action is not confirmed.

  7. 16 March 2025

    Further police inquiry reminder

    HRPF requested follow-up action on the inquiry report referred to in its police-station representation.

Police-station inquiry follow-up

A further representation concerning Kuthiala Sheikhan referred to an earlier inquiry and reminders, asking senior police authorities to act on the reported findings. These are HRPF’s representations and requested remedies; the material does not establish final disciplinary action or a court outcome.