Kadiyam SI Sent to VR: Disha DSP Investigates Dalit Youth Torture Case

VIJAYAWADA: A sub-inspector at Kadiyam Police Station, R Sivaji, was sent to VR (Vacancy Reserve) following a complaint that he tortured a Dalit youth, Vaddi Venkata Prasad while in custody. The East Godavari in-charge SP, S Satish Kumar, has asked Disha DSP Tirumala Rao to investigate the complaint.

Venkata Prasad complained that the Kadiyam SI beat him up and abused him in filthy language. When he pleaded for water to drink, the SI asked him to urinate and drink it. The victim belongs to Kunkudupalli village of Chagallu mandal.

The issue arose after a ‘woman missing’ case from Kadiyam mandal was registered. The Kadiyam police picked up Venkata Prasad for an inquiry on August 17. He was allegedly tortured, then admitted to a hospital by citing Asthma, and discharged abruptly on Saturday.

In a new twist to the case, Venkata Prasad’s wife Sirisha alleged on Sunday that the police offered to give her money to avoid the filing of a police torture case. She pleaded with the authorities to take action against the police officials who tortured her husband severely and insulted him.

Meanwhile, the East Godavari police office said a case was registered against the Kadiam SI under Section 323, 324 and Section 3 (2)(va) of the SC and ST Atrocities Prevention Act, at the Kadiyam Police station.

The police office released a press note, giving a different twist to the case. It said Venkata Prasad helped Kodada Prasad, who took away the woman, by giving his bike. “When investigation officer Sivaji was interrogating him, Venkata Prasad told the SI that he was suffering from Asthma. The SI asked Prasad’s friends Chandu and Mohan to take Prasad away and give him treatment. Prasad was admitted to a private hospital. During the treatment, he gave a statement that the SI had beaten him up with the police belt and slapped him,” the police statement read.

The SP office claimed that there was no truth in the complaint that the SI beat him up “severely” or asked the accused to drink urine. A detailed probe has been ordered into the incident, it said.

AP bar council member Muppalla Subbarao condemned the police statements. “Once the SP appointed an officer to investigate the case, how can he arrive at a premature conclusion that the SI did not do any wrong?  This is aimed at diverting, influencing and suppressing the investigation. Once the higher officer gives a statement like this, how can an investigation officer give a different report after the investigation,” he asked.

He said the Dalit Youth who faced severe physical assault from the Kadiyam SI was admitted to a hospital by the husband of the missing woman, not by the family members. “The investigation should reveal the facts on who admitted the victim Prasad into a private hospital and who will bear the medical expenses? When the Dalit youth was suffering from Asthma, why did the police guard the ICU of the private hospital refused to allow the victim’s wife to see him until he was discharged forcibly?”

He said the Kadiyam police did not register an FIR until they picked up the victim at the station.

The SI was taken off duty and put in Voluntary Reserve mode, pending an investigation of the complaint against him.