Bhopal: Four policemen have been line attached and a TI has been transferred in connection with the stripping of farmers in Tikamgarh district. The disciplinary action against the cops has been taken after a probe report indicted them of the misconduct.
Five policemen including TI, ASI, head constable and two constables have been charged for forcing the farmers to take off their clothes and sit in their underwear at the Dehat police station of Tikamgarh on October 4. Amid a huge uproar over the incident, the state home minister Bhupendra Singh Thakur had instituted an inquiry.
The DIG KC Jain conducted the investigation and submitted a report within three days.
Officiating IG law and order Sanjiv Shami, while talking to media on Friday, said that departmental probe has established that the four police personnel had forced the farmers to disrobe themselves. The cops have been line attached, while the TI of the police station has been shifted out of district, he added.
Police personnel who have faced action include ASI Bhagwati Sharan Namdev, head constable Rambaksh, constables Adarshmuni and Gokul. The TI RP Choudhary, who was on leave on leave when the incident occurred, has been transferred to Sagar district.
The incident occurred when a group of farmers on a tractor were returning to their home from a public meeting organised by the Congress party. As they were passing by Dehat police station, two police constables stopped them directing them to sit inside the police station compound.
Following their direction when farmers went inside the police station, the cops much to their insult asked them to disrobe themselves. The policemen forced the farmers to take off their clothes and sit in their underwear.
Protesting the police action, a number of people gathered at the station. Police had canecharged farmers and their supporters.
Ajay Singh asks home minister to resign
Accusing the home minister of giving false statement over Tikamgarh issue, Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh on Friday demanded the minister to resign.
Congress leader said that soon after the incident, Bhupendra Singh Thakur had termed it as ‘drama of Congressmen’, but now the probe report has proved the wrongdoing of the police personnel. Singh said that earlier also the minister had given wrong statement on the killing of five farmers in Mandsaur claiming that “police didn’t open fire on the farmers”.
The minister is irresponsible and has been making false statements therefore he should not continue on the post and resign, and so and is not able to hold important post, so should resign, the Congress leader said.
Meanwhile, PCC chief Arun Yadav on Friday visited the National Human Right Commission in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum seeking justice for the farmers and action against the persons responsible for the incident.
The leader reportedly demanded suspension of Tikamgarh district collector and superintendent of police for their failure to handle the matter.
