Admin blames lax police action for Bhojpur village incident

Nearly five days after a 25-year-old man was allegedly beaten up and forced to drink urine in a panchayat in Bhojpur village on February 14, a detailed inquiry by the administration has blamed the police of laxity in dealing with the situation.

Nearly five days after a 25-year-old man was allegedly beaten up and forced to drink urine in a panchayat in Bhojpur village on February 14, a detailed inquiry by the administration has blamed the police of laxity in dealing with the situation.

A 25-year-old man, a daily wager, had allegedly peeped into the house of one of the accused in the case on February 10, after which he was summoned by a panchayat on February 14 and allegedly beaten and forced to drink urine. (Sakib Ali/HT File)

The 25-year-old man, a daily wager, had allegedly peeped into the house of one of the accused in the case on February 10, after which he was summoned by a panchayat on February 14 and allegedly beaten and forced to drink urine.

After the panchayat, the man tried to commit suicide by pouring kerosene over himself but was thwarted by his neighbours. He left his house with his family and a written complaint was forwarded to the police.

“After the February 10 incident, police officials of the area were expected to keep an eye on the situatuin but they failed to do so. This led to further escalation and resulted in a panchayat,” Atul Kumar, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Modi Nagar, said.

“However, in the report, we have taken statements of four villagers and the report is divided over the liquid being urine or something else,” Kumar said.

Following a preliminary inquiry on Saturday, a detailed inquiry was ordered by district officials. The report, blaming the police, was submitted by officials to the sub-divisional magistrate on Sunday evening.

However, when the incident was brought to the knowledge of senior police officials, they ordered for an immediate FIR which was lodged on February 17 under sections 352 (punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of IPC.

On February 18, the police arrested four persons, prime accused Amit, Rajvir, Deepu and Vikas. Officials, in the preliminary inquiry on Saturday, confirmed that a panchayat was held but they failed to reach a conclusion over the liquid.

On Sunday, the police made a fifth arrest. They arrested Satish, uncle of Deepu and Vikas. So far, police have arrested Amit, Rajvir, Deepu, Vikas and Satish.

“A detailed inquiry was ordered as villagers were divided over the liquid being urine. This is why a detailed inquiry was ordered. A panchayat was, in fact, held,” the SDM said.

After Amit’s arrest, his wife Sushma Devi had admitted that a panchayat was held but said that the liquid was tea water. “It was not urine. We had prepared the tea water by adding tea leaves to water and made him drink it to scare him into admitting his mistake,” Devi had said on Saturday.

However, a few villagers said that the 25-year-old man was forced to stand on one leg, made to apologise and beaten up.

Chiranji Lal, a villager, had said that Devi also hit him with a pair of slippers.

“Then too, the victim was apologising. He was made to write a mafinama (apology letter), in which he said that he is sorry for the mistake and will not be seen in the locality post evening. After this, Amit brought a bottle containing urine. He claimed that it was his and his wife’s urine. Four to five people from his family held the man and forced it into his mouth,” he said.