Women allege ‘police brutality’ during raid at Vitthalwadi: Medical reports confirm they were beaten

THE REPORTS of the medical examination conducted on the three women from Vitthalwadi, who are currently in police custody along with 28 other villagers for allegedly attacking the police, have confirmed their allegations of being brutally beaten. According to police, they had found illegal hooch-making unit in three of the 43 houses in the hamlet of the village. After arresting some of the villagers in connection with the matter, some of the cops again entered the hamlet on October 1 and started searching households.

Villagers have alleged that when some of the women in these houses questioned the police, the officers allegedly started beating them. Meanwhile, police said five officers, including a sub-inspector and two homeguard personnel, were injured in the attack, which the villagers have alleged was in response to the “inhuman” treatment meted out by the police.

Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Suvez Haque has ordered a probe into the matter.

Shivaji Chaure, a resident of the village whose wife has been arrested for the alleged attack on the police team, said, “We have obtained medical reports of the three women who are now in police custody. A medical examination of the villagers was conducted on the day they were arrested on charges of attempt to murder of police. The reports revealed that the three women have injuries of being beaten by a stick on their hands. Another woman had sustained a severe head injury. All those arrested have been remanded to magisterial custody and sent to Yerawada Jail.”
“They had not spared two pregnant woman and a mother of newborn, and two young boys aged nine or 10. They have been beaten up on hands and legs,” added Chaure.

A doctor from the rural hospital, where the medical examination was conducted, told The Indian Express that the report of the three women has confirmed that the injuries sustained on their hands and legs were caused by a stick. A group of women from the village and some activists from the Janjati Suraksha Manch have also taken up the issue with the State Women’s Commission.