Four rag-pickers,including at least one minor,were thrashed by the police in the Phase-1 police station on Friday. According to the police,the rag-pickers were arrested following a complaint by a guard in Phase-4 market,who accused them of theft. The rag-pickers were brought to the station and were repeatedly slapped and thrashed by the police,and also beaten with a stick. According to Station House Officer Dharampal Singh,the minor was 13-14 years old. The police later said that the identity of the rag-pickers was verified and they were set free after it was learnt that they had only been mistaken to be thieves. SHO Singh,when asked about the thrashing,said he had not received any complaints regarding the incident but would look into the matter.
