Three cops arrested for thrashing villager

SURAT: Three policemen were arrested by detection of crime branch on Wednesday for their alleged role in thrashing and kidnapping a resident of Suvali village near here in July. The accused were avoiding arrest and had approached court for bail, but later withdrew their applications and surrendered before the police.

Ramesh Gadhvi, Ramesh Chaudhary and Hitendrasinh Chawda — all three constables —were arrested and sent to judicial custody by the court on Thursday. However, the court rejected the request for their remand, the police said. The accused had allegedly thrashed Hiren Aahir (38), a farmer from Suvali, on July 26 at Hazira police station. He was allegedly thrashed by a group of cops after they locked him up in a room on first floor of the police station. Aahir was allowed to go later, but had to be admitted to a hospital because of injuries. When Aahir's family submitted an application to the police about the torture, they booked him for allegedly harassing the wife of one of the cops.