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Journalism of Courage
A week after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin informed the Assembly that he has issued orders to suspend Ambasamudram assistant SP Balveer Singh, who was accused of indulging in custodial torture by pulling out the teeth of several suspects, additional chief secretary K Phanindra Reddy issued an order Monday putting Tirunelveli district SP P Saravanan on a compulsory waitlist. Tuticorin SP L Balaji Saravanan is set to hold full additional charge as Tirunelveli SP until further orders.
The government removed Singh, a 2020-batch IPS officer hailing from Tonk in Rajasthan, after photos and videos of the men with their teeth missing circulated on social media.
The officer was removed from his post as assistant superintendent of police of the Ambasamudram sub-division in Tirunelveli. Stalin while announcing his suspension in the Assembly noted that based on the final inquiry report, action will be taken against the officer.
Political parties in the state demanded that the government slap a case against the officer and provide due compensation to the victims. The State Human Rights Commission, which has taken suo moto notice to probe the incident, also summoned the officer for investigation a few days ago.
Under these circumstances, Tamil Nadu IPS Officers’ Association (TNIPSA) intervened in the incident and issued a statement claiming that various forms of media are covering the issue in a ‘selective matter’ and various vested interests are being propagated in social media to influence evidence, witness, investigating agencies and the public.
“Such biased and pre-judged reporting may adversely affect the ongoing investigation,” the statement issued by TNIPSA president DGP Abhash Kumar reads.
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