DI, 5 constables suspended for alleged torture of Dalit woman
Hyderabad: Cyberabad police commissioner Avinash Mohanty on Monday suspended detective inspector Ramireddy and five constables of the Shadnagar police station for the torture of a Dalit woman last week.
Sunitha, who lives with her husband Bheemaiah and their 13-year-old son in Ambedkar Colony under Shadnagar police station, alleged that she was tortured by DI Ramireddy over allegations of gold theft and was assaulted in the presence of her minor son.
“In continuation of departmental action concerning the incident of Shadnagar police station, the detective inspector Shadnagar and five other constables have been placed under suspension. Further departmental action will follow,” an official note from Cyberabad commissionerate said. Before the suspension, commissioner Avinash Mohanty attached Ramireddy to the Cyberabad headquarters.
Sunitha was admitted to Shadnagar Government Hospital. Speaking to the media, Sunitha said, “I was taken to the police station at 9 pm. They initially hit my husband, and after some time they took me into the lockup. They hit me constantly, forcing me to confess to a crime I did not do.”
“I was dropped back at home in the complainant’s car at 2 am. The next day, Ramireddy sir called me back to the police station. Despite the pain, I went. He asked me, ‘Did you find the gold?’ to which I said, ‘I didn’t steal it, I don’t know’ and he slapped me twice. He kicked me with his boots on my chest thrice and hit me on my neck thrice”, she said.
BRS MLA Sabitha Indra Reddy and the party leader R.S. Praveen Kumar visited Sunitha in the hospital and demanded strict action against the officers.