1 week ago
Meerut Farmer Leaders Allege Assault at Senior Cop’s Offices
Two farmer leaders in Meerut said police officers hurt them.
Digvijay Bhati said the senior police officer and other personnel beat him at two police offices.
He said they used shoes, fists, sticks and wooden boards, and that his eye was injured.
Mohit Jatav said his legs swelled and he had trouble hearing.
The two men said they were kept by police for about 12 hours.
They had gone to the police office over cases connected to protests.
The police ordered an investigation, but it has not yet established what happened.
Political leaders called for action against anyone found responsible.
Digvijay Bhati and Mohit Jatav alleged they were assaulted at the Meerut SSP’s office and the Special Operations Group office.
Bhati alleged that police beat him with shoes, fists, sticks and wooden planks, kicked his eye, and tied him up.
Jatav alleged swollen legs and hearing difficulty; both men said they were held for about 12 hours.
Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey was transferred or attached to police headquarters in Lucknow amid the allegations; one report described the move as routine.
Deputy Inspector General Abhishek Singh was ordered to investigate, while political leaders demanded action and raised concerns about police accountability.
- Who
- Bharatiya Kisan Union leaders Digvijay Bhati and Mohit Jatav made the allegations against Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey and other police personnel.
- What
- The two men alleged assault and prolonged custody at the SSP’s office and the Special Operations Group office; police ordered an inquiry.
- Where
- The alleged incidents took place at the Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police’s office and the Special Operations Group office.
- When
- The alleged assaults occurred on a Wednesday; the inquiry was ordered after the matter was brought to officials’ attention on August 19, and reports said Pandey’s transfer was announced the following day.
- Why
- Bhati said he went to the SSP’s office over his name in an FIR linked to a July 8 protest; another report said the men had also sought a meeting over a history sheet opened against Jatav.
Alleging Workers and Political Critics
Police and Administrative Position
Alleged treatment at police offices
Alleging Workers and Political Critics
Bhati and Jatav alleged that police personnel assaulted them, including beatings with shoes, fists, sticks and wooden planks; Bhati also alleged he was tied up and hung upside down.
Police and Administrative Position
Meerut Police acknowledged allegations of rudeness and assault involving visitors to the SSP’s office, while senior police officials ordered an investigation rather than announcing findings.
Why the men went to the SSP’s office
Alleging Workers and Political Critics
Bhati said he sought removal of his name from an FIR and claimed he was not present at the July 8 protest; another account said the men had been trying to meet the SSP over a history sheet opened against Jatav.
Police and Administrative Position
Police had named Bhati and Jatav among 13 people in an FIR against protesters after the July 8 demonstration became violent, according to the reports.
Accountability and political response
Alleging Workers and Political Critics
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and Azad Samaj Party MP Chandrashekhar Azad described the allegations as police brutality or custodial torture and demanded action.
Police and Administrative Position
Additional Director General Bhanu Bhaskar said further action would be based on Deputy Inspector General Abhishek Singh’s completed inquiry; Pandey did not respond to calls seeking comment, according to one report.
Reason for Pandey’s transfer
Alleging Workers and Political Critics
The allegations surfaced around the time Pandey was transferred, which one report presented as following the complaints.
Police and Administrative Position
Another report said the transfer and attachment to Lucknow were part of routine transfers involving nine officers and occurred before the allegations surfaced publicly.
Key facts
- Alleged victims
- Digvijay Bhati and Mohit Jatav, leaders of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BR Ambedkar)
- Accused senior officer
- Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police Avinash Pandey
- Other officer named
- Civil Lines Police Station Inspector Akhilesh Gaur
- Reported injuries
- Bhati was shown with swelling around his eye; Jatav alleged swollen legs and difficulty hearing
- Reported custody
- The two men alleged they were held for about 12 hours
- Administrative action
- Pandey was transferred or attached to the Director General of Police headquarters in Lucknow
- Investigator
- Deputy Inspector General Abhishek Singh of the Saharanpur Range
- Related protest
- The allegations followed police action during a July 8 protest over the death or murder investigation of a Dalit woman or college student, as described differently in the reports
Quotes
Chandrashekhar Azad
Azad Samaj Party Member of Parliament
“But when we got there, SSP Avinash Pandey started abusing us, saying we had created a nuisance for him. When I objected, policemen present there forcibly dragged me inside, where I was beaten with shoes, fists and kicked for nearly 90 minutes”
indianexpress.com
“At the SOG office, we were tied up and assaulted. We were beaten with sticks and wooden planks on the soles of our feet, waist and back. I was hit around my eye, which left me injured”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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