An incident of custodial torture has been reported from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh. A youth was reportedly held by two policemen around a pillar while a third officer brutally flogged him inside the Mungrabadsahpur police station. According to reports, the victim sustained injuries as a result of police brutality.
A video of the custodial torture has surfaced online, sparking widespread outrage against the police. After the video of the incident went viral, the accused police officer, identified as SHO Vinod Mishra, was replaced by Inspector Dilip Kumar Singh.
The action against SHO Vinod Mishra has drawn mixed reactions from netizens. Some users commended the step taken against the accused officer, while others are questioning whether merely transferring the inspector to headquarters (line hazir) is enough to stop such brutal acts inside police stations.
Questions are also being raised as to why no action has yet been taken against the two officers who assisted the SHO during the assault.
According to reports, the youth had paid money to the inspector to get a certain task completed. When the work was not done, he demanded his money back. This reportedly enraged the SHO, who then ordered his subordinates to tie up the youth and bring him to the station. Once at the police station, the youth was allegedly beaten severely by Vinod Mishra.
It has also been alleged that multiple complaints had previously been lodged against SHO Vinod Mishra for extorting money from the public, but no substantial action was taken against him.
