( 1 ) THIS public interest petition is filed by Lok Adhikar Sangh claiming to be a human rights organisation committed to the defence and protection of civil liberties and democratic rights of the people and particularly of the poor and the down-trodden in the State of Gujarat. The petition is filed on behalf of Nitaben goswami, Sarpanch of village Dadva in Bhavnagar District, and her husband dineshpuri who are alleged to have been subjected to brutal and ruthless torture by anti-social elements sometimes in collusion with the police officers and sometimes with the connivance of police officers. The grievance in the present petition centres round the arrest of Nitaben during night hours and allegations of handcuffing and parading of Nitaben and her husband in the village by police officers of Bhavnagar district. The Alleged Incident and the Background

( 2 ) THE facts leading to filing of the present petition, as averred on behalf of nitaben and her husband, are as under :-2. 1 Nitaben Goswami and her husband Dineshpuri Goswami have been residing at village Dadva, Taluka Umrala of Bhavnagar District. In May, 1991, some antisocial and head-strong persons from Dadva villa