DGP orders action against cops who thrashed murder suspects
Updated
Hyderabad, Dec 2 (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) B Prasada Rao today ordered for initiating disciplinary action against a woman DSP and other policemen in Anantapur district who allegedly thrashed in full public view four suspects arrested for a murder.
Condemning the act, the AP Police Chief directed the DIG (Anantapur Range) to initiate disciplinary action against the lady police officer and other policemen.
"It is condemnable... I have asked the DIG (Anantapur Range) to initiate disciplinary action and we will take action," Prasada Rao told PTI.
The DIG will conduct an inquiry into the matter, he said.
The footage of the incident, which reportedly occurred on Saturday in Guntakal town of Anantapur district, was telecast yesterday by local news channels that showed a police team led by DSP Supraja and other police personnel beating up the four suspects in full public view.
Police picked up one Sekhar for allegedly murdering his father-in-law Mallaiah (65), along with his accomplices Somu, Peddanna alias Peddi and Hussain, on November 27 at Old Bus Stand in the town.
They took all the four suspects to the place of crime.
As per the footage aired by news channels, the four were seen kneeling down with their hands folded and police officers, including DSP Supraja, inspector Sreenivasulu and sub-inspector Ismail, hitting them repeatedly with sticks. A policeman was also seen slapping the four.
Earlier Report
Andhra cops thrash murder accused in public, allegedly to 'set an example'
Anantapur, Dec 2 (NDTV): Four murder suspects were thrashed in full public view at Guntakal town in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday by a team of policemen who claim they wanted to "counsel them and set an example."
The policemen, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police E Supraja, reportedly took the suspects to a crowded bus depot of the town - where the men had allegedly killed a 65-year-old man - and beat them mercilessly, watched by hundreds of people on the street and on rooftops.
The incident was reportedly filmed on mobile phone cameras by some of the spectators in the large crowd seen heckling the suspects and cheering the police.
In footage shown on TV channels on Sunday, the four were seen kneeling down with their hands folded, as police officers, including DSP Supraja, hit them repeatedly with sticks and slapped them.
"Taking the law into their own hands is unwarranted," the state's Director General of Police B Prasada Rao today, said in the first official condemnation of the act.
The suspects had been in jail since November 30. The main accused, Sekhar, allegedly killed his father-in-law over a family dispute. His brother and two friends were also arrested for abetting the crime.
The police officers also allegedly urged Sekhar's wife, the daughter of the man who was killed, to slap him.
This is the second such case of police excess in the Anantapur district. Recently, some young men allegedly caught harassing women were also beaten up at the same bus station.