6 cops in UP’s Banda booked for torturing taxi driver in custody in 2021 dacoity case

Complainant Ashok, also known as Badkau, alleged that after being severely beaten by the police, he sustained an injury to his tongue, making it difficult for him to speak properly for a long time.

“All policemen named in the FIR are posted outside the district now,” said Naresh Prajapati, SHO of the Marka police station. No one has been arrested, and the police have begun to collect information about their postings, he said. A police officer said Ashok’s role was initially not established in the dacoity case, so he was released after questioning.

According to the police, on February 23, 2021, a dacoity happened at the residence of Santosh Gautam, a resident of Kusumbin Purva village. The police detained several suspects, including Ashok, Deepak, and Rajwa, for questioning. Ashok alleged that he was kept in police custody for three days and brutally thrashed, resulting in a tongue injury and loss of consciousness.

Ashok claimed that he was initially taken to a nearby hospital and was referred to Kanpur for further medical aid. Later, he was brought back to Banda and admitted to a hospital for treatment. After being discharged a few days later, the police dropped Ashok at his home. Due to his injuries, Ashok could not speak initially. Once his condition stabilised, he informed his wife Sumitra Devi and brother Rai about the alleged harassment.

They complained to senior police and administrative officials. When no action was taken, the family went to court to request a directive to file an FIR regarding the issue. The court recently issued a directive for lodging FIR under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide).