Rights panel seeks report on police beating minor boy

Coimbatore: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Wednesday issued a notice to city police commissioner Sumit Sharan, seeking a detailed report on police brutality on a 13-year-old boy who was roaming on motorcycle on Sunday, when complete lockdown was in force.
In the letter, the SHRC said it has taken suo motu cognizance of the incident based on the article published in a vernacular daily on Tuesday and asked the city police commissioner to submit the detailed report in three weeks. “In the event of any default, the commission may proceed to take action as it deems fit and proper.”
On Sunday, the boy from Surya Nagar at Ondipudur, along with two others, had gone to visit one of their friends. While returning, police constable Durgaraj, who is attached to Singanallur police station, stopped their motorcycle and questioned them for roaming on streets during the complete lockdown.
According to police officials, the cop beat the boy with lathi when he attempted to escape from his grip for the second time while questioning. The boy was later allowed to go home. He narrated the incident to his mother, who demanded stringent action against the constable.
The Singanallur police had visited the boy at his house the same day and pacified his family members. Sumit Sharan had also ordered an inquiry into it.
Meanwhile, photographs of the boy with the injury marks that he sustained in beating went viral on social media.
It is the second notice that the SHRC issued to the city police commissioner in the past two months. On June 30, the commission had sought explanation on another cop beating a 16-year-old boy following a quarrel with the boy’s parents for keeping their eatery open beyond the closing time during the lockdown.