Is Police Torture Occurring Inside Domkal Lock-Up in Bengal?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Allegations of police brutality are serious and should be thoroughly investigated.
- Community engagement is critical in maintaining law and order.
- Police accountability is essential for public trust.
- Victims of police violence must feel safe to speak out.
- Legal actions can be pursued against individuals who abuse their power.
Kolkata, Aug 19 (NationPress) A sub-inspector and a civic volunteer are facing serious allegations of severely assaulting an individual in the lock-up at the Domkal police station.
Reports indicate that police apprehended Sarwar Ansari, a local from Naodapara village in the Jalangi area, on suspicion of jute theft late Sunday night. He was reportedly subjected to violence while in custody on Monday.
According to local sources, residents from the Gokulchak region of Dhulauri panchayat caught Sarwar and his accomplice, Firoz Sheikh, in the act of stealing jute late Sunday night, with the stolen goods found in their vehicle.
The villagers restrained the suspects by tying them to an electric pole and proceeded to physically assault them before notifying the police. Authorities intervened, rescuing the two and transporting them to the police station.
Once at the station, it is alleged that Sub-Inspector Sujoy Sarkar assaulted Sarwar with a wooden baton in the lock-up. After one baton broke during the assault, it is claimed that the officer retrieved another to continue the beating.
A civil volunteer identified as Babu reportedly participated in the assault as well.
Following the incident, Sarwar was taken to Domkal Sub-divisional Hospital for a medical examination on Monday night, where the evidence of the assault became apparent.
"The police inflicted serious injuries upon me in the lock-up. Both the sub-inspector and a civic volunteer used a wooden stick to beat me," Sarwar expressed to reporters.
Nevertheless, police officials have refuted these claims.
On Monday night, Raspreet Singh, the Additional Superintendent of Police (Lalbagh) in Murshidabad, stated, "The accusations of police brutality in the lock-up are unfounded. The villagers had already assaulted the suspects. We have initiated a case against two villagers regarding the assault."