Dalit youth tortured at police station, three policemen suspended

 Visakhapatnam: Three police personnel of the Padmanabham police station were suspended for allegedly torturing a Dalit youth and breaking his leg in an unauthorised interrogation around 9.30 pm on Sunday into the theft of a rooster in Bandevapuram village, located 25 kilometres from Visakhapatnam.

The victim, Bandevapuram Papu, and his aide Gali Yernibabu were accused of stealing a rooster used in illegal fights owned by Indukuri Rajababu of the village around 10 days ago. They allegedly sold the rooster to an acquaintance of Rajababu’s security guard, who duly informed his employer.

The issue came to a head at a panchayat, with the duo asked to pay Rs 12,000 to Rajababu as compensation. While the duo agreed to pay up, local political leaders allegedly dissuaded the duo from paying, following which Rajababu filed a police complaint.

The duo was brought to the police station on Sunday evening, questioned by the inspector Sanyasi Naidu and asked to return on Monday. However, after the inspector left, two beat constables — who villagers claimed were drunk — allegedly thrashed Papu and he suffered severe injuries to his leg, which was fractured earlier this year.

Papu’s brother Srinu, who was waiting outside, said he entered to find Papu writhing in pain. As he raised the alarm, the two constables fled the station.

Immediately, Dalit organisation members staged a dharna at the station, seeking action.

DCP (crime) R. Naganna pacified the crowd and assured them of an inquiry. Naganna said that a theft case was not registered against the duo, but the police constables allegedly assaulted Papu.

Visakhapatnam police commissioner A. Ravi Shankar ordered an inquiry into the incident by ACP (Disha Police Station) Ch. Vivekananda. Further, he suspended the constables, K. Srinivasa Rao and K. Satish, and sub-inspector Malleswara Rao.

Action was taken against Malleswara Rao for not monitoring the case properly though he was present in the station at the time of the incident.

Vivekananda said that Papu’s right leg was broken in a road accident in January and he underwent surgery. The constable hit the same leg, necessitating another surgery.

“A case was registered against the three police personnel under SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act. Both the constables are missing since the incident,” DCP Naganna said.

Papu was admitted to the Vizianagaram Government Hospital for treatment and surgery.