SHRC seeks report on IPS officer ‘who pulls suspects’ teeth’

TIRUNELVELI: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Tuesday took suo motu notice of the incident in Tirunelveli wherein former Ambasamudram ASP Balveer Singh was accused of breaking several suspects' teeth during police interrogation.
The commission’s notice issued by the assistant registrar on Tuesday directed the inspector general/director, investigation division, SHRC, to investigate and submit a detailed report within six weeks.
An inquiry by the sub-divisional magistrate and sub-collector of Cheranmahadevi, Mohamed Shabbir Alam, is already underway into the allegations. On Monday, DGP C Sylendra Babu had placed the ASP on vacancy reserve after the accusations of custodial torture came to light. Balveer Singh is accused of torturing six people, Esakimuthu, Mariappan, Chellappa, S Mariappan, Arul alias Antony and Suresh, who were arrested in connection with an attempt-to-murder case registered at Ambasamudram police station on March 10. It is alleged that the former ASP used cutting pliers to pull out the teeth of the accused and also forced gravel stones in their mouth before slapping them.