16-year-old boy thrashed by cops in Warangal; probe ordered

A day after a sixteen-year-old boy was allegedly beaten up by police in full public view at Jagtial town in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, the state human rights commission today directed the DGP to file a status report on the incident on March 7.

“This incident appears to be barbaric and violates the human rights of the boy, who was dealt with unlawfully,” SHRC Member (Non-Judicial) Kakumanu Peda Peri Reddy said, adding the commission has taken a suo motu cognisance of media reports which last night telecast the footage showing the cops beating up the boy.

Circle police inspector Deva Reddy and constable Ganga Reddy yesterday picked up the boy from Brahmin Street in the town on suspicion that he along with one Gopi was involved in theft of petrol and spare parts from parked vehicles, family members of the victim said.

They alleged that the duo repeatedly slapped the boy and also hit him on his hands with a stick in middle of the road and the inspector even took out his revolver and pointed it towards the boy.

After a local television channel telecast the footage of the boy being beaten up by policemen last night, an inquiry was immediately ordered into the incident.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), A Rama Rajeshwari, who conducted an inquiry into the incident and submitted a report to the higher officials, found the inspector and constable resorted to “high-handedness” and has recommended a disciplinary action against the duo.

“I also saw the original video footage and the cops prima facie seem to be responsible for the high-handedness and I recommended for disciplinary action against them,” she told PTI, adding the locals handed over the boy to the police when they caught him “indulging in theft”.

As part of the investigation, the inspector had taken the boy to scene of offence and while being examined the CI and the constable seem to have slapped and hit the boy with a stick, she explained.

–Agencies