Dalit man tied to tree, thrashed by landlord for ‘stealing’ fan
Victim’s wife says police neither registering complaint nor tracing her husband who is missing since the evening of September 9
BATALA : A 30-year-old Dalit man, Tikka Masih, was tied to a tree and beaten up by his landlord for allegedly stealing a fan from a fodder shed in Bhullar village under Sadar police station of Batala on September 9.
The entire episode was videographed by Tikka’s landlord Deba Singh and his friends who later uploaded the footage on social networking sites.
Tikka has been missing ever since the incident took place on the evening of September 9. His wife, Sunita Masih, tried to lodge an FIR with Sadar police but claimed that neither the police registered her complaint nor tried to trace her husband even after five days have passed.
Alleging police inaction, Sunita then approached the media and narrated how her husband was accused of theft by his landlord. She said Deba along with his friends thrashed Tikka and forced him to accept the crime.
“I rushed to the spot on being informed and even gave ₹1,300 to Deba as a cost of the fan. But even then, Deba took away my husband and told me that he was going to teach him a lesson,” Sunita said.
“My husband is missing ever since. Unable to get any satisfactory reply from Deba about Tikka’s whereabouts, I approached the police. But nothing has been done so far despite fake assurances,” she said.
However, Mukhtiar Singh, station house officer of Sadar police station, said he only took over the charge of police station on Wednesday. “I will call both the parties on Friday and take appropriate action against the guilty,” he added.
When contacted, Batala senior superintendent of police Opinderjeet Singh Ghuman said he was not aware of any such case and assured to look into the matter personally.
›
I gave ₹1,300 to landlord Deba Singh as a cost of the fan. Even then, Deba took away my husband and told me that he will teach him a lesson. SUNITA MASIH, victim’s wife I took over the charge of police station on Wednesday only. I will call both the parties on Friday and take appropriate action against the guilty. MUKHTIAR SINGH, Sadar SHO