Suspended cop Balveer Singh appears before human rights commission

Suspended police official Balveer Singh appeared before the state human rights commission and gave his explanation. In a video message posted on social media platform, three members explained the ordeal of third-degree torture by Balveer Singh. One of them said that after changing to plainclothes from uniform, the ASP asked his gun-man and another policeman to hold his hands, and broke his tooth with a gravel. He further said that the ASP then put the broken pieces into his mouth and slapped him until his lips started bleeding.  

Claiming that others also undergone similar torture in the hands of ASP, he said that the police crushed their testicles and were beaten with lathis.Shortly after the incident came to light, the matter was referred to the Tirunelveli collector for an independent inquiry under section 151 of the Police Standing Order. The collector directed the Cheranmahadevi sub-collector Mohammed Sabeer Alath to investigate the matter and Balveer Singh was suspended.

The state human rights commission has taken suo motu cognizance of the case and the commission directed its intelligence division IG to investigate the case. Five of the complainants appeared before the commission and explained their version. 

They said, along with the ASP, other officials were also involved in third-degree treatment and they threatened them not to complain against the ASP.  Following the directions, the accused official appeared before the commission and gave his explanation.