Tortured RTI activist's kin allege police harassment

Greater Noida: The family of RTI activist Anup Singh, who was reportedly abducted and tortured by unidentified assailants on Dec 13, has alleged UP police is harassing the victim instead of arresting the culprit.
Family members claim, police said the incident is fake and that Singh burnt himself. They also alleged police are unnecessarily harassing Singh's relatives and friends by summoning them to the police station almost everyday.
"Cops are harassing us to make us withdraw the case. Our relatives are being picked up for questioning . We are feeling unsafe. We will write again to the UP chief minister," Sanjiv, Anup's brother, said.
Gautam Budh Nagar police denied all allegations. "We are not putting any pressure on the victim's family. The charges of harassment are not true, we are only questioning people as part of the investigation," SP (Rural) Brijesh Singh said.
Singh, a resident of Dankaur village in GB Nagar district, was abducted by armed assailants on December 13 and was found in Bulandshahr four days later. The criminals allegedly burnt the victim's private parts with cigarettes and beat him with hot iron rods.
A medical report of Dankaur government hospital states Anup Singh sustained severe burn injuries all over his body, including his face, thighs, legs and private parts.
"Police have detained dozens of our relatives, friends and family members for questioning. No one has been arrested. Police are repeatedly saying we injured him in order to implicate innocent people," Jitendra Rana, Anup's cousin, told TOI.
Anup's uncle, Bachchu Singh, said he had raised his voice against inferior quality of work in the area. He had filed an RTI in October with Yamuna Expressway Authority asking for details of work and contractors engaged in development work in Sikka village. While he did not get a reply, the Authority formed a committee which inspected the village on Nov 12.