Amarjot Kaur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 19
Three youths, including two students of Panjab University (PU) and a resident of Hallo Majra, arrested by the UT police while they were protesting the rape and murder of a six-year-old girl, were granted bail by a district court on Thursday. Today, the youth alleged police torture. The police, however, have denied the allegations.
Amandeep Singh, 25, who is pursuing a bachelor's degree at the department of library and information science in PU, said: "On March 6, the day of protest, the three of us were taken to the Sector 31 police station. In a room on the first floor, we were beaten up mercilessly. The police would abuse us, hurling crass, lewd remarks at our mothers, sisters." He said: "The police rounded us up at the protest site when we told them that we were moving the crowds away from the road and will march towards Hallo Majra. That's when they started lathi-charging us." Aman is associated with a Panjab University's left-leaning student organisation, the Punjab Students Union-PSU (Lalkaar).
Vaibhav, 25, said: "The police took turns to beat us. One officer would sit on top of us, the other would ask us to lift up our feet and then lashed batons on our soles. Then they would ask us to walk. After a while, the beating would start again." Vaibhav is pursuing a masters degree in sociology at the PU and is a member of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, a left-wing Indian association founded by Bhagat Singh in 1926.
Amandeep and Vaibhav said: "At night, we were taken for a medical in the Civil Hospital, Sector 45. Our details were taken in the presence of the police. I even asked for a medicine, but neither the police nor the doctor said anything. We were made to sign on the medical and then put in the lockup. The next day, we were presented before the court." They added, on March 8, their bail plea was rejected and they were sent to 14-day judicial custody.
Gopal, 28, a resident of Hallo Majra, who runs a small gift gallery in the locality, stated: "There was no evidence of the youths assaulting or pelting stones at the police."
Fact-check report will be prepared: Bekhauf Azadi
Advocate Ravinder Singh Jolly, one of the defence lawyers in the case, reported that the arrest of the activists demanding justice had become a common occurrence these days whether it is a struggle against agricultural laws in Delhi or the demand for justice for rape victims.
He said: "The law and advocacy community stands with Amandeep, Vaibhav and Gopal." Advocate Aarti also shared that a fact-check report would soon be prepared by her organisation, Bekhauf Azadi, to expose the police's apathy and inaction.
Not the question to be asked by media: SHO
When contacted, the SHO of Sector 31 police station, Narinder Patiyal, said: "I know you called to know about the police beating the three boys, abusing them and all. When we arrest someone, we get their medical done. These guys are such 'budhijeevis', studying in universities; they should have told them. They could tell the judge that they have been beaten up. All allegations are false. More arrests will be made. We have a complete list." He added: "The day they blocked the road for six hours, people were inconvenienced. Did the media ask them why they blocked the road? The police have a six-hour video of them. Now, more people will be arrested. These people should not be entertained. This is not even a question to be asked by the media."
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3vKwti0
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