Rights panel asks for victim’s examination by medical board

BATHINDA: The Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (PSCPCR) on Tuesday directed the Bathinda civil surgeon to get a 13-year-old boy who was allegedly tortured in police custody last week medically examined by a board of doctors.

The victim was handed over to the police by a local trader on December 3, accusing him of theft.

Meanwhile, Bathinda SP (investigation) Swaran Singh Khanna, former Kotwali SHO Devinder Singh, ASI Rajbir Singh and two civil hospital doctors appeared before the commission at Mohali, in response to summons issued by it. The victim’s mother also recorded her statement before the panel.

Commission chairman Sukesh Kalia said that as the family had demanded medical examination of the child by a panel of doctors, the civil surgeon has been directed to do so and file the report as soon as possible.

He said the district education officer (DEO) has also been directed to resolve the issue of name correction of child’s father so that he could get admission in the school as he has not been enrolled in school after Class 5.

THE CASE

The victim, a resident of a locality near Fauji Chowk here, was caught by Devinder Kumar, a trader in the cloth market here, on December 3. The boy alleged that he had gone to pick a kite but Devinder caught him and beat him up before handing him to the police, alleging that he came there to commit a theft.

“The five cops at Kotwali police station, including SHO inspector Devinder Singh, two ASIS Kuwlinder Singh and Rajbir Singh and two other cops beat me mercilessly and also injected petrol in my private parts asking me to confess that I have committed six thefts which I haven’t,” he alleged.

The boy’s mother alleged that he was released on December 4, only after she paid a bribe of Rs 5,000. The boy is currently under treatment in Bathinda civil hospital.

A case was registered against ASI Kulwinder Singh, who had also been suspended, trader Devinder Kumar and some unidentified men. SHO Devinder Singh and ASI Rajbir Singh were transferred to the police lines, pending inquiry.