Dalit boy tortured by cops may get vision back: Docs

It took four visits to SGPGI and three Visually Evoked Response (VER) tests to diagnose the cause behind his loss of vision. “Rohit had come here on August 6,15,September 6 and 15 for the same tests,” said Rakesh Kumar Pandey,Circle Officer (CO) of Ayodhya. Rohit was being allowed to go home as according to the doctors,he can recover there,he added.

Dr Kumudini Sharma,a specialist in neuro-ophthalmology at SGPGI,said: “We have to call it cortical vision loss as twice we tested him for VER but got nothing. Cortical vision loss can be treated naturally with a nutritious diet.”

According to Sharma,the reason behind Rohit’s condition could be a result of being hit at the neck. Lack of proper nutrition or dehydration and hysteria are other possible causes. Even though it’s not intentional,the patient becomes so hysterical with fear that he refuses to accept that he can see. “Like a nervous child,Rohit kept repeating the same sentence again and again — about stealing mobiles and his father being beaten up by the police,during the tests,” she added. Rohit was also taken to CSMMU’s psychiatry department but the doctors found nothing wrong with him.

“The doctor there said we can take him back,” said CO Pandey. Dr Prabhat Sitholey,Head of CSMMU’s psychiatry department,however,said: “I referred Rohit back to the doctor who had sent him to me. I did not ask the police to take him back.”

Rohit looked weak and,with his shaking legs,seemed to find it difficult to support his body. He was in a worse condition when he came to SGPGI for a second round of checkup on Monday.

Speaking in a loud voice,he alleged that he was hit time and again in his legs,near his neck and even on his forehead while in custody.

“They had hanged me upside down and beat me on the legs. While I was at the Faizabad hospital and here at the medical college,I was given injections to make me stand up and walk,” he said.

Rohit claimed that Sub-Inspector P P Pandey had threatened him to keep his mouth shut,or else he would be beaten to death.

Five policemen have been suspended and a case lodged against them for torturing Rohit in police custody. Rohit was arrested in a case of theft of mobile phones.