PRAYAGRAJ, Nov. 7 -- Strongly criticising Uttar Pradesh Police over unlawful detention and repeated instances of non-availability of CCTV footage, the Allahabad high court has said that the civil liberties situation in the state is shameful and that police have little regard for citizens' rights.

With this observation, a division bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Achal Sachdev in its November 3 order allowed a habeas corpus writ petition and directed that the petitioner-Afzal Ahmad of Bijnor- be set at liberty forthwith, if he is not wanted in any other case. The court also directed the state to pay Rs.20,000 as costs to him within seven days.

The court said the police appear to have little regard for fundamental rights, addi...