SIT probing alleged torture of ex-soldier by UP cops: Govt to HC

PRAYAGRAJ: The state government on Monday informed the Allahabad high court that a special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate into the plea filed by a retired soldier of the Indian Army alleging humiliation and brutal torture by the Uttar Pradesh Police.
The state government informed the court that the SIT will also investigate the charges made in the FIR lodged by retired soldier Resham Singh. Further action, including the arrest of the accused police officers, would be effected if they are prima facie found to be guilty in the preliminary inquiry.
Keeping the submissions made by the state government on record, a division bench comprising Justices Surya Prakash Kesarwani and Gautam Chaudhari directed to put up this case on July 16 for further hearing.
On the directions of the court, UP DGP filed a counter-affidavit by means of a personal affidavit on Monday. The state counsel, on the basis of the counter-affidavit, informed the court that some action has been taken against the accused police officers, including sub-inspector Sunil Kumar Sharma and investigation officer Ram Naresh Singh, and a preliminary inquiry is being conducted.
The state counsel said, the up-to-date status of the matter shall be placed before this court on the next date of hearing, when advocate general of UP shall also appear before the court.
On July 8, after taking into account the injury reports and FIR filed by the retired soldier, the HC had observed: “Prima facie, it shows a very sorry state of affairs — police atrocities and a breach of fundamental rights of the petitioner by the accused police officials.”
Emphasising that the matter is serious and requires serious consideration of the court, it had directed the UP DGP to file a counter-affidavit by means of his personal affidavit, indicating the action taken in the matter.
According to the petition, on May 2, Singh, along with his mother and two sisters, was going to Lakhimpur Kheri from Pilibhit, when they were stopped by the police officials at around 9am. The police then asked for the papers of the car, in which they were travelling. Since it was reportedly taking time to sort out the papers, the police officials “abused the victim and his family members”. The victim asked the officials to not abuse them and also informed that he was a retired member of the armed forces.
This infuriated the policemen, who threatened the victim and his family members that they would teach them a lesson for life. They then started abusing and beating the victim with lathis. They also allegedly beat his mother and sisters and took them to the police station without taking the assistance of any woman officer, the petition says.
At the police station, the victim was allegedly disrobed and tied on a cot and brutally beaten up by the said police officials for two hours. They also gave him third-degree torture only to satisfy their ego, the petitioner alleged.
Thereafter, he lodged an FIR against the erring officials and took treatment in the army hospital.