Police face torture allegations

21- YEAR- OLD WAS ASSAULTED AFTER REFUSING TO PAY BRIBE, FAMILY SAYS

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar initiated a high- level inquiry and also ordered the removal of all police officials after a man was allegedly tortured at the residence of a district superintendent of police after he refused to pay extortion money.

The 21- year- old, whose intestines have been badly damaged, was admitted to a government hospital, where his condition is said to be critical.

The action follows a written complaint by one of the victim’s relatives, Dheeraj Kumar, who alleged that police inserted a pointed bamboo stick- like object into the 21- year- old’s rectum, damaging his intestines and causing multiple injuries.

“The chief minister has taken very seriously the barbaric torture of a youth by the Sheikhpura Police in police custody, and has ordered a high- level inquiry by a joint team of a secretary- level officer in the home depart- ment and a police official in the rank of additional director general of police into the entire incident,” said a statement by the state government issued to the media yesterday.

The chief minister has ordered the investigating team to submit a report by today and demanded the removal of the Sheikhpura district superintendent of police Babu Ram from his post while the entire staff of Barbigha Police Station have been transferred. The minister has also ordered the initiation of a case against the police officers.

According to the victim’s family, Mukesh who works in a liquor outlet in the Sheikhpura district, was arrested by the police on January 24 on charges of running an illegal liquor trade but was instead taken to the residence of the local district superintendent of police where money was demanded.

“On his inability to pay money, the cops resorted to third- degree torture,” the victim’s uncle, Kumar, told the media.

He also alleged that officers had offered money in an attempt to get him to change his statement.