By M.E. Dodge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
AMETHI, India – Multiple television channels broadcast a clip of a policeman beat a woman. The officer was suspended after millions viewed recorded attack.
Photograph of Sangeeta Kumar. Image courtesy of BBC World News.
Footage of the incident shows a policeman slapping a woman and pushing her to the ground, after which he punched and kicked her. The officer, Kailashnath Dwivedi of the Musafirkhana police station, claims he did it to force a confession after Sangeeta Kumar was accused of murdering her husband, Deepak Kumar. Correspondents say that the beating highlights the widespread problem of police brutality in India.
The woman, a member of the low-caste Dalit community, is accused of murdering her husband, whose strangulated body was found in their house on Tuesday. The footage appears to show an inspector assaulting the 26-year-old woman outside their home.
The woman was rounded up after some time and allegedly confessed to the crime, reported official, Satyendra Veer Singh. Despite the confession, Inspector Kailash Nath Dubey, however, beat her up while a second, subordinate female officer looked on. Condemning the incident, Singh said, “This kind of behaviour was really uncalled for. The lady had already confessed to the crime that she had murdered her husband….There was absolutely no need of beating up this lady so mercilessly.”
Singh went on to say that, “It was total brutality on part of the inspector. Finding him guilty, we have put him under suspension. A departmental inquiry is on. We will take necessary action against him.”
Subsequent to Singh’s announcement, a statement was issued addressing the gravity of the incident, and stated that the government has decided to terminate Dwivedi’s services, and would take immediate effect.
According to Indian law, there are strict guidelines on the arrest of a woman. A woman suspect can only be handled by a woman police officer and male policemen are not allowed to touch her. A policewoman has to be present at all times, including during interrogations. But most of these guidelines are regularly flouted by policemen in India.
Human rights activists are “appalled by this brutal attack on a woman.”
For more information, please see:
BBC World News – Indian policeman suspended over beating video – 18 February 2010
The Times of India – Inspector sacked for beating up Dalit woman – 18 February 2010
The Indian Express – Inspector suspended for thrashing woman before media – 17 February 2010
Press Trust of India – Cong slams Mayawati for police atrocity on Dalit woman -18 February 2010
