Eight Surat cops on run after ‘torture’ of youths in custody

Manas Dasgupta

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Ahmedabad, June 1

Eight police personnel, including the inspector in-charge of the Khatodra police station in Surat city, are at large after an FIR was lodged against them for alleged torture in custody of three youths.

One of the youths, Omprakash Pandey, was admitted to the hospital with brain haemorrhage, while the other two were released after treatment of minor injuries.

Though no police complaints were filed against the three, they were allegedly picked up by the police on suspicion of being involved in housebreaking and other offences.

The three were allegedly tortured in police custody for three days following which Pandey suffered haemorrhage. As the incident came to light, Surat police commissioner Satish Sharma ordered an inquiry into the alleged torture.

The police also lodged an FIR against the eight cops, including a sub-inspector and six constables.

The attempt by a posse of policemen from other police stations to arrest the accused resulted in exchange of blows between the uniformed men and in the melee all eight accused fled. A Surat police spokesman later said though no case was registered against any of the three youths in Surat, a case of housebreaking was registered against Pandey in Nagpur. He was also declared an absconder as he had fled from Nagpur police custody, the spokesman said.