3 hrs ago
Gujarat Police Accused of Publicly Flogging Murder Suspect
Police in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, arrested a man accused of killing a woman he lived with.
The woman died after an alleged assault near a bus station.
Videos appeared to show police tying the man with ropes and hitting him in public.
Police said this happened while they were rebuilding the events of the crime.
A police inspector said the action would make other offenders afraid of police.
The man was later sent to judicial custody.
A civil liberties group said the police may have treated him unlawfully and demanded action.
Gujarat police rules had already said that tying and parading accused people must stop.
The case has renewed concerns about how police treat arrested people.
A 20-year-old homeless man accused of murdering his partner was allegedly flogged publicly by Bhavnagar police.
Videos show Faizal alias Khatki Rafiq Lakhani tied with ropes and struck during a crime-scene reconstruction.
Police Inspector D P Unadkat said the action was intended to deter repeat offenders and described the case as rare.
Lakhani was arrested on September 4 and sent to judicial custody after police did not seek remand.
PUCL Gujarat issued a legal notice, citing alleged torture and violations of constitutional protections for accused persons.
- Who
- Bhavnagar police, including Police Inspector D P Unadkat, allegedly flogged Faizal alias Khatki Rafiq Lakhani, who was accused of murdering Kajal.
- What
- Police allegedly tied the accused with ropes, paraded him around a bus stand and struck him with batons during a crime-scene reconstruction.
- Where
- The alleged incident took place at the GSRTC bus stand in Bhavnagar, Gujarat.
- When
- The alleged flogging occurred on Saturday, September 5, after Lakhani’s arrest on September 4; the alleged murder occurred on September 3.
- Why
- The police inspector said the action occurred during crime-scene reconstruction and was intended to deter offenders, while PUCL demanded action over alleged torture and rights violations.
Police Justification
Rights and Accountability Concerns
Purpose of the public treatment
Police Justification
Police Inspector D P Unadkat said the incident occurred during crime-scene reconstruction and could make miscreants fear the police.
Rights and Accountability Concerns
PUCL Gujarat said police personnel were taking the law into their own hands and demanded urgent action for allegedly violating protections for accused persons.
Use of ropes and public parading
Police Justification
The police presented the conduct as part of handling a suspect in what Unadkat called a rare case.
Rights and Accountability Concerns
A Gujarat police directive said tying arrested people with ropes and publicly parading them were not established processes and must be stopped.
Need for official action
Police Justification
The report records the local inspector’s explanation but says senior officers were unavailable for comment.
Rights and Accountability Concerns
PUCL sought action against Unadkat and other personnel, while citing alleged torture and damage to the public image of the police.
Key facts
- Accused
- Faizal alias Khatki Rafiq Lakhani, 20
- Victim
- Kajal, 40, who lived with Lakhani outside the bus stand
- Alleged crime
- Kajal’s death after an assault near the Bhavnagar bus stand
- Police explanation
- The flogging allegedly occurred during reconstruction of the crime scene and was intended to frighten miscreants.
- Custody status
- Lakhani was sent to judicial custody after Nilambaug police did not seek remand.
- Civil-liberties response
- PUCL Gujarat sent a legal notice seeking action against the inspector and other involved personnel.
- State police directive
- A May 12 letter from DGP KLN Rao said tying, parading and similar treatment of accused persons must stop.
Quotes
D P Unadkat
SHO of Nilambaug police station in Bhavnagar
“The image of the Gujarat Police is tarnished because of actions such as handcuffing of the accused or tying them with ropes and publicly parading them and showing off. Such inhuman behaviour also overshadows the good work of the police and leaves a bad impression of the police on the public”
indianexpress.com
“He is not a gang member as such, but he is in the habit of being a nuisance. There are many others who engage in similar activities. When you do this (flogging), miscreants remain scared of the police.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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