AGRA, March 25 -- Fourteen assistant commissioners of police at the Agra police commissionerate appeared before a court in Agra on Monday and were asked to explain a complaint lodged by local lawyers with the administrative judge of the Allahabad High Court. The complaint alleged violations of individuals' rights in breach of peace cases, claiming that the accused or their family members were denied the opportunity to furnish bonds or secure bail and were sent to jail. It may be recalled that the administrative judge of the Allahabad High Court for Agra courts, JJ Munir, was in Agra on a routine visit when local lawyers met him and raised concerns over alleged violations of individuals' rights in cases registered for breach of peace. Lokendra Sharma, the secretary of the Collectorate Bar Association of Agra, alleged that around 5,000 people have been sent to jail on charges of breach of peace, despite provisions stating that imprisonment should not be ordered in cases where the offence carries a punishment of less than seven years. "The ACPs exercise executive powers under the police commissionerate system, and the situation has worsened since Agra was brought under this system. The matter was therefore brought to the notice of the visiting administrative judge. A committee was constituted, and all ACPs at the Agra Police Commissionerate were summoned to explain why accused in breach of peace cases were sent to jail without being given an opportunity to furnish bonds or secure bail," alleged Sharma. A police official said that accused in breach of peace cases are often sent to jail to minimise the chances of situations escalating, adding that this has proven to be an effective tool for maintaining law and order. htc...