A shocking case of alleged police brutality has emerged from Agra, leading to the suspension of a sub-inspector and the removal of a station house officer. An 18-year-old milk vendor claims he was brutally beaten, had his toenail pulled out with pliers, and was robbed by personnel at a local police outpost.
Victim's Harrowing Account of Assault
According to the complaint filed with the Deputy Commissioner of Police (City), the incident occurred on December 2. The victim, Narendra Kushwah, a resident of Veerai village in Saiyan, had come to Agra with his elder brother Dheeraj (24) to sell milk door-to-door in the Garib Nagar area under the Jeevni Mandi police chowki jurisdiction.
Narendra stated that around 11 am, while he was seated in their tempo and his brother was delivering milk, Sub-Inspector Ravi Kumar, the in-charge of Jeevni Mandi police chowki, arrived with four other personnel. They asked him to move the vehicle. When Narendra explained that he did not know how to drive and they would move it once his brother returned, the situation escalated violently.
"All the police personnel caught me and brought me to the police chowki, where they assaulted me with lathis and batons," Kushwah alleged in his complaint. He described a horrific ordeal where he was pulled by the collar, beaten severely, and specifically targeted on the soles of his feet. Most disturbingly, he claimed the policemen pulled out one of his toenails using a pair of pliers. Furthermore, Rs 1,800 was taken from his pocket. After the assault, he was charged under sections 126 and 135 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) for alleged breach of peace.
Immediate Police Action and Investigation Ordered
Following the serious allegations, DCP (City) Sayyed Ali Abbas took swift administrative action. Speaking to the media, DCP Abbas confirmed, "Jeevni Mandi chowki in-charge, SI Ravi Kumar, has been suspended, and Chhata SHO, inspector Pramod Kumar, has been removed from his post."
The senior officer has directed the Area Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) to conduct a thorough investigation into the entire episode. The ACP has been instructed to submit a detailed report within 48 hours. Sources familiar with the preliminary findings indicated that the outpost in-charge initially threw the young vendor to the ground and beat him before ordering constables to batter his soles with sticks.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Probe
This incident has cast a harsh spotlight on police conduct and accountability at the grassroots level in Agra. The use of extreme physical torture methods and the subsequent filing of charges against the victim have raised serious questions. The prompt suspension and removal of the accused officers indicate the seriousness with which senior police officials are treating the complaint.
The ongoing investigation by the ACP will be crucial in determining the full sequence of events, verifying the victim's injuries, and ascertaining the whereabouts of the allegedly stolen cash. The case also brings into focus the application of new legal statutes like the BNSS. The outcome of this probe is awaited to deliver justice and possibly trigger further reforms in police-public interactions.
