Refused to move tempo: UP milk vendor tortured in police custody, toenail pulled out; SI suspended, SHO removed

AGRA: A milk vendor was allegedly thrashed, toenail pulled out with pliers and soles were badly battered with lathis at a police chowki under Chhatta police station of Agra district. The man was also challaned under BNSS sections 126 and 135 ((breach of peace…). Following a complaint by the victim, DCP (City) Sayyed Ali Abbas suspended Jeevni Mandi outpost in-charge and shunted the SHO of Chhatta police station. Complainant Narendra Kushwah, 18, of Veerai village in Saiyan and his elder brother Dheeraj came to Agra city on a tempo to sell milk door-to-door. In his complaint to the DCP, Kushwah said: “Around 11 am on Dec 2, we were supplying milk in Garib Nagar area under Jeevni Mandi. My brother Dheeraj, 24, went to deliver milk while I was sitting on the tempo. In the meantime, the sub-inspector of Jeevni Mandi police chowki, Ravi Kumar, along with four other police personnel, arrived and asked me to move the tempo.” “I said my brother drives the vehicle and I can’t drive. We will move the tempo once my brother comes. On this, all the police personnel caught me and brought me to the police chowki, where they assaulted me with lathis and batons and pulled me by the collar. They also rained blows on my soles and pulled a toenail with pliers. The policemen also took Rs 1,800 from my pocket. Further, I was challaned under sections 126 and 135 of the BNSS. Due to the assault, I suffered severe injuries,” Narendra Kushwah told the DCP. Speaking to TOI, DCP Abbas said, “Jeevni Mandi chowki in-charge, SI Ravi Kumar, has been suspended, and Chhata SHO, inspector Pramod Kumar, has been removed from his post. The area ACP has been directed to investigate the matter and submit a report within 48 hours.” Sources said the outpost in charge first threw Narendra to the ground and beat him. He then ordered the accompanying constables to rain blows with sticks on his soles.