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Farmer leader’s ‘torture in custody’: 8 cops sent to lines on new Meerut SSP’s order
New Meerut SSP BBGTS Murthy suspended eight police personnel for alleged torture of BKU leaders. Investigation into previous SSP's actions launched.
Immediately after assuming charge on Friday evening, new Meerut senior superintendent of police (SSP) BBGTS Murthy ordered action against eight police personnel for their alleged involvement in the torture of a Bharatiya Kisan Union leader and another BKU activist in police custody on August 19.
Following the new SSP’s order, the eight police personnel were sent to the police lines in Meerut on Saturday. They include Civil Lines inspector Akhilesh Gaur; S-I Mulayam Singh, and constables Neelam, Hariom, Mukesh Kumar, Shyambabu, Sumit, and Lalit.
Earlier on Friday, additional director general, Meerut zone, Bhanu Bhaskar ordered a probe into the allegation of custodial torture against former Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey. Saharanpur DIG Abhishek Singh has been assigned the investigation.
Farmer leader Digvijay Bhati, president of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BR Ambedkar), levelled allegations in a press conference on Friday, accusing Murthy’s predecessor Avinash Pandey and other police personnel of assaulting him and Mohit Jatav after they went to meet the officer regarding their involvement in a protest in Meerut over the murder of a college student.
Bhati, who had one of his injured eyes covered with a bandage, further alleged that after the assault at the SSP’s office, Civil Lines inspector Akhilesh Gaur was handed responsibility for dealing with him and Jatav.
“He took us to the SOG office at the Police Lines where we were subjected to brutality. Whenever we became unconscious, they would revive us and beat us again,” he alleged.
On the other hand, Meerut police have rejected the allegations of custodial torture. They claimed that Bhati and Jatav were already facing several criminal cases and were history-sheeters. The police claimed that the two sustained injuries after their scooter skidded while they were returning home.
The development came amid a major reshuffle in the Uttar Pradesh Police. The state government transferred nine IPS officers, including Avinash Pandey, late Thursday night. Pandey has been attached to the Lucknow police headquarters.
According to Bhati, police had arrested and sent eight to 10 people to jail in connection with a protest related to the Lalita Gautam murder case. He claimed that neither he nor Jatav had participated in the protest and that they had gone to meet the SSP to present their side.
Bhati alleged that the then SSP became angry during the meeting and used abusive language against them, while Mohit Jatav accused the then SSP of planning to eliminate the two men in a staged encounter.
According to police, Digvijay Bhati, son of Raghuraj Singh and a resident of Chamarwa in Sambhal, and Mohit Jatav, son of Suresh Singh and a resident of Kinanagar in Meerut, are history-sheeters in their respective police station areas.
Police said five cases each are registered against Bhati in Meerut and Amroha, while seven cases are registered against Jatav in Meerut.
