Ludhiana, Aug. 12 -- Nearly 21 years after a Dalit woman was allegedly tortured in police custody, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has opened proceedings into the case in Jagraon, recording statements of five people on Tuesday.

The case concerns Kulwant Kaur, who was 19 when she was allegedly illegally confined and subjected to third-degree torture by police. The family alleges that the torture left her permanently disabled and bedridden for nearly 16 years. She died at the age of 35 on December 10, 2021.

According to the family, Kaur and her mother were taken into custody for questioning after Kaur's niece died by suicide on July 14, 2005. Kaur was allegedly taken into police custody a few days later, where the family claim...