Police custodial torture three police personnel of Varthur police station suspended

Thomas (special correspondent)

Three police personnel attached to Varthur police station has been suspended for alleged torture in the police custody.

Close to the heel of delegation from National Confederation of Human Rights Organizations (NCHRO) Karnataka approached the city police commissioner Kamal Pant,and submitted a report regarding the police custodial torture by Varthur police personnel.

After verifying the report and on the prima facie three police personnel found to be guilty and handling the case tortured the youth brutally in custody for which the youth lost his arms.

The three police personnel from Varthur police station have been suspended over an alleged police torture in the custody.

A 21-year-old Salman Khan,working in a meat shop was detained by the police over a theft case and subsequently had to get his arm amputated after he was subjected to custodial violence.

The accused police personnel identified as Nagabhushan Gowda,Head Constable,Nagaraj BN and Shivaraj H,both are constables.

The three were suspended on Thursday,after prima facie evidence showed that they handled the case unscientifically,a procedure that has only become blithely customary in cases of custodial violence.

S Balan,a senior advocate told reporters that “A team comprising of human rights organisations and advocates including the National Confederation of Human Rights Organizations, the All India Lawyers’Association for Justice, the Campaign Against Hate Speech conducted a fact-finding into the incident a week ago.

The team found through inquiries with Khan who was illegally detained from 27th October 2021 to 31st October 2021,without being produced before a magistrate or compliance with the due procedure established by law,and was subjected to extreme forms of torture at the hands of the police officials of the police station.

He was tortured by hanging his toes,beaten up, kicked,stomped on by boots,placed in positions with a rod tied behind his back,and was kicked on his arm to such an extent that the arm was swollen to twice its size.

On account of the torture inflicted Khan and lost his arm which had to be amputated later.The incident was riddled with illegality,with allegations of extortion,torture and abuse coming to light,he said.

When the team asked the police Inspector of the Varthur Police Station vehemently denied the police brutality,and stated that Salman Khan was detained and released on the same day.

He was taken into the custody over battery theft case but on account of paucity of information regarding his involvement,was released”said in the press release.

The team on Thursday demanded further that action must be initiated against the officials under Section 220, 330 and 331 of the Indian Penal Code,1860, amongst other provisions of law and a monitored inquiry must be initiated against the Inspector and officials of Varthur Police Station regarding the incident.

Compensation no less than Rs.50 lakhs should be granted to Khan and his family for the atrocities faced by him.

The State Human Rights Commission, Commissioner of Police and Minorities Commission must take cognizance of the incident and take strict action against the erring officials he added.