SHRC seeks report on cops beating boy

Coimbatore: Taking suo motu cognizance of a news article on police brutality on a boy that was published in the Times of India, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has issued a notice to city police commissioner Sumit Sharan, seeking a detailed report on the incident.
The news was published on June 23 with the headline “Viral video shows cops beating up 16-year-old boy”. The SHRC has given the police commissioner two weeks to submit the report.
A small argument between police and a couple had turned violent in Rathinapuri on June 17 when the former started beating up the couple’s minor son. The video of the incident later went viral on WhatsApp.
A police source said the incident took place when Velmayil, 47, and his wife kept their tiffin stall on Shastri Street at Rathinapuri open after 9pm. Sub-inspector (SI) Chellamani, who was on patrol, asked them to shut the shop, which was not allowed to function after 8pm as per the lockdown norms.
“The couple defended themselves. Seeing their son shooting the entire episode using a mobile camera, the SI grabbed the phone from the boy, who snatched his bike key. Irked, Chellamani and another cop started assaulting the boy. He also threatened the boy’s parents that their son would be sent to jail for his behaviour,” the source said.
Later, the boy, a Class X student, was taken to the police station. The Rathinapuri police also registered a case against the boy’s father.
According to child activists, if a minor is involved in a conflict with the law, the person should be treated carefully by officials. “Police cannot assault a minor, nor can that person be taken to a police station. They should inform Childline officials, who deal with children in conflict with law,” an activist said.