31 Aug 2024: In a shocking case of police brutality, a video has emerged showing a 55-year-old Dalit woman, Kusum Vanshkar, and her 15-year-old grandson being brutally assaulted by officers at a police station in Katni, Madhya Pradesh. The footage, which surfaced on social media, led to immediate action from the authorities, reported The Indian Express.
According to the complaint filed by Vanshkar, the incident occurred on October 29 last year when she and her grandson were summoned to the Katni Government Railway Police (GRP) station for questioning in relation to her older son, Deepak, who was a suspect in a theft case. The complaint alleges that Inspector Aruna Vahane locked the door to her office and subjected Vanshkar to severe physical abuse, including dragging her by the hair, beating her with a wooden stick, and kicking her. Additionally, it is claimed that four constables struck her grandson on the legs multiple times with a wooden stick.
The disturbing video, captured by a CCTV camera within the police station, went viral recently, prompting swift action from the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Mohan Yadav. On Thursday evening, Yadav issued a public statement condemning the violence and announced that the implicated officers had been suspended. The suspended personnel include Inspector Aruna Vahane, Head Constable Ajay Shrivastav, and Constables Shoaib Abbasi, Salman Khan, Omkar Sirsam, and Varsha Dubey.
Yadav assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted, emphasizing that senior police officers have been instructed to prevent such misconduct in the future. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about police conduct and the need for accountability within law enforcement agencies.
The suspension of these officers is an important step, but it underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure such abuses do not recur.
