NHRC takes up charge of assault by policemen

"It was around 10.15 p.m.. As my wife was unwell, I decided to go to the nearby dhaba to buy some dinner. However, after the dhaba owner said that the food had got over, I started walking back home. Just then, two motorcycle-borne policemen came from behind and asked me whether I was Ashwini. I replied in the negative," says Aseem, a transporter, living in Sagarpur near Janakpuri.

Aseem started to walk towards his house which was around 150 metres away. "After walking a short distance I was stopped by a police Gypsy (DL-1A-0364) which was followed by the cop on the motorcycle. Three policemen came out from the Gypsy and one of them after punching me said `Mahavir stand on his hand,’ after which I received a number of blows on my legs and feet which knocked me unconscious," he says.

Aseem was packed off in the Gypsy and taken to the Dabri police station. None of his family members were informed.

"I went berserk waiting for my husband," says 20-year-old Ritu, who got married to Aseem four months back. It was only at 3.30 a.m. that two cops – Babulal and Ashok – came to inform Ritu that her husband was in police custody. "I and my 48-year-old mother-in-law Sarita Sharma went to the police station. We saw my husband sitting in front of a room-heater on a chair in a semi-conscious state and he was running high fever," said Ritu.

However, the police permitted Ritu to take her husband only on the condition that she wrote in the register that Aseem was mentally disturbed.

"On reaching home I noticed that not only was Aseem badly injured but even his gold chain, watch and wallet were missing," lamented Ritu.

After Aseem’s condition stabilised he approached the area DCP and sought assistance in punishing the culprits.

"I took a strong view of the incident and suspended two cops (ASI Jeetu Oroan and constable Joginder Singh) on January 19. An inquiry has been initiated in the case and no leniency would be adopted," said DCP South West S. Prakash.