'Delhi's anti-terror cell misusing custodial detention'

New Delhi, Nov 18 (IANS) Delhi Police's elite anti-terrorism wing Special Cell has gravely misused custodial detention of the accused in the Sep 13 serial blasts in the capital, a human rights group said Tuesday.

"The Special Cell has been responsible for grave abuse of the accused in the custody. The police denied access to their parents and lawyers, and instead made them to confess under duress to their families on phone," Shahana Bhattacharya, a member of People's Union for Democratic Republic (PUDR), said.

Bhattacharya, a Delhi University teacher, at a press conference also accused the counter-terror agencies of communal bias.

"The police are obsessed with quick results, for which they rely on shortcuts, depending on prejudices and stereotypes. They pick up the people regardless of their connection with the crime," Bhattacharya said.

PUDR reiterated its demand for a judicial enquiry in the Sep 19 Jamia Nagar shootout.

Two suspected terrorists alleged to be responsible for the serial blasts in Delhi were killed in Jamia Nagar and many others were arrested in a subsequent crackdown by investigators in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district.