PRAYAGRAJ, May 21 -- The Allahabad high court has said that the police's act of torturing or harassing the relatives of an accused is a 'colonial practice', which is violative of the right to life and personal liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

The court restrained the respondents from summoning the petitioners to the police station or detaining them or threatening them on any pretext in connection with the impugned FIR.

The bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena was hearing a criminal petition filed by one Munita Devi and others alleging relentless harassment by the Prayagraj Police.

The petitioners' son Ashish Kumar alias Chhotu had allegedly eloped with the informant's daughter.

Th...