Reply sought from local police over Bhojpur ‘urine’ drinking incident

Bhojpur police officials have been issued a notice by the administration, seeking reply on why the police did not inform the administration over the issue. The sub-divisonal magistrate said that the police have been lax in handling the case.

The Ghaziabad administration officials have issued a notice to the station house officer of Bhojpur police station under whose jurisdiction a 25-year-old daily wager was allegedly beaten and forced to drink urine at a panchayat held on February 14.

A villager points to the spot from where the 25-year-old was allegedly peeping into the house. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

The action came after a preliminary inquiry and a detailed inquiry report compiled by the administration officials. The investigation, so far, has revealed that a panchayat was held but it remains to be proved if the man was forced to drink urine. The report, containing statements from four villagers, on the incident was submitted to the district magistrate on Monday.

“There is complete laxity on the part of Bhojpur police officials. The area is under their jurisdiction and they should have informed the administration about the incident. A reply is sought,” Atul Kumar, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Modi Nagar, said.

It is alleged that the 25-year-old daily wager hap peeped into the house of one of the accused, where a woman was sleeping on February 10. Following the incident, a panchayat was called and the victim was allegedly beaten and forced to drink urine.

Following the panchayat, the man rushed to his house and tried to commit suicide but his attempt was thwarted by onlookers. He left the village with his family and forwarded a complaint, describing the incident, to the police.

Senior officials, on learning about the incident, ordered an FIR on February 17 and arrested five accused persons — Amit, Rajvir, Deepu, Vikas and Satish.

Sushma Devi, Amit’s wife, into whose house the victim had allegedly peeped into, claimed after Amit’s arrest that the liquid in the bottle was not urine but tea water prepared to instil fear into the victim.

However, other villagers said that Amit had brought the bottle to the panchayat and had stated that it contained human urine. The accused also allegedly forced the bottle into the man’s mouth during the panchayat.

The detailed inquiry by district officials confirmed that a panchayat was held but states that the four villagers, whose statements were recorded, are divided over the liquid being urine.

“The detailed report was handed over to the district magistrate for further action. It contains the statements of four villagers. There has been a laxity on part of Bhojpur police,” the SDM said.

Nidhi Kesarwani, the district magistrate, said, “I have received the report and directing it to the senior superintendent of police for a detailed inquiry into the incident.”

The victim and his wife have left their residence after the incident and are yet to return.