Cop assaults 2 students over laptop theft

MUMBAI: Two students from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) were allegedly assaulted by a police officer from Govandi police station while investigating

MUMBAI: Two students from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) were allegedly assaulted by a police officer from Govandi police station while investigating a theft case, which occurred in the hostel, on Sunday.

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Two laptops and a mobile phone were stolen from a room at the hostel, which was shared by five students. The police allegedly suspected the involvement of Mohammed Sadique, 23, and another student, following which they were beaten up.

“The laptops of two of my flatmates were stolen while my mobile phone was stolen on August 9. The next day, two of the flatmates went to Govandi police station at 11.30am while I reached a couple of hours late as I had an interview,” said Sadique.

According to Sadique, subinspector Shankar Surve allegedly started to abuse and slap him. “He initially was enraged as I came late. He accused me of trying to shield the other student in my statement but I told the officer that I did not see him steal anything,” said Sadique.

The police officer said there were discrepancies in the statements of the five students. “The incident occurred between 3am and 5 am when only the students were inside the room. As there was evidence, we did not make any arrests in the case and are awaiting cyber reports for further investigation,” said Surve.

Sadique said he was taken to the lock-up and beaten. “The police took my belongings, following which I was taken to the lockup where I was kicked and later assaulted with a belt. I was kept at the police station for five and a half hours before other students intervened and freed me. The other student was also assaulted,” said Sadique.

“I was undergoing treatment for dengue and told the police, but to no avail. I told them that my platelet count is less but they did not listen. They even taunted me over the region I belong to,” he said.

The student association in a statement has demanded that the officer be suspended “for a fair trial”.