Patna, Nov. 25: Bihar police could be in the firing line of the high court these days for being ?corrupt? and ?criminal?. But they never thought that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) would take them on in a manner most unexpected.

The commission has issued a notice to state director-general of police, Narayan Mishra, for the alleged handcuffing of a 12-year-old Patna boy.

The 12-year-old Govinda, a resident of the Sri Krishnapuri police station area, was accused of making extortion calls in the manner of jailed criminal Bindu Singh. Police reportedly arrested him four days ago.

After a national newspaper published a photograph of the handcuffed boy, the NHRC took up the matter and issued the notice to the police chief, asking him to furnish the commission with all the details of the case, including the boy?s present status.

Sri Krishnapuri police inspector K.K. Singh refuted the charges today. He said he had neither handcuffed the boy nor registered a case against him.

?I came to know about the activities of the naughty boy and called him to find out the facts. Like a good guardian, I scolded him and warned him not to do such things anymore,? Singh told The Telegraph.

He said he has become ?friendly? with the boy since then and he (Govinda) calls on him frequently, which helps the officer keep a check on his activities.

Singh blamed the media for playing up the case. The state DGP was not available to comment on the NHRC notice.

The deputy inspector-general, human rights, K.K. Bhatt, said he was not aware of the notice and added that he would look into it.