THANE: The Thane police chief has ordered an inquiry into allegations of custodial torture against two officers of the Kapurbawdi police after supporters of slain Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar were detained during a mass protest in Thane early on Wednesday.
Manjusha Bhongle, senior police inspector, Kapurbawdi police station, told HT, “The officers he has named were on duty last night and have not yet reported for duty. Detained for pelting bricks at a police team and blocking traffic, the protestors were taken into the Kapurbawdi police station, where two of them were allegedly stripped, thrashed, and forced to perform sexual acts on each other. The allegations, which name two police officers, have been noted in a letter submitted to the Kapurbawdi police. The two complainants have been sent to the Thane Civil Hospital for a medical examination. A copy of the complaint has also been sent to the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission and the police commissioner. the complainant allege that he and his friend were forced to strip, beaten badly and made to perform sexual acts on each other by police sub-inspector Prashant Sangule While in custody. He has demanded an investigation by a senior police officer from outside Kapurbawdi police station and that CCTV footage from the police station be preserved to avoid attempts to destroy it. The complainant has also demanded that the police officers concerned be booked and suspended, or that a departmental inquiry be initiated against them. Once they report, we will question them about the allegations. Based on this footage, we detained him for further investigation.”
Bhongle also said, “We have video footage in which the complainant is seen pelting bricks at police teams on bandobast duty and clearing the road blockades put up by Purnekar supporters. On Friday, Thane police commissioner, Ashutosh Dumbre, directed deputy commissioner of police, Prashant Kadam, to investigate the charges.
One of the complainants, aged 26 and a resident of Manpada, stated in the complaint that he and his friend, the second alleged victim, were detained on Thursday and placed in custody overnight. Because he was holding a photograph of Purnekar, who was assaulted and shot dead at his office in Manpada on September 29, he claims he was detained.
