Two more cases have been registered by the CB-CID, probing custodial torture charges against the suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Ambasamudram Sub-Division, Balveer Singh, by invoking the provisions of Scheduled Caste (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The total number of cases filed against the police officer has gone up to three.
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Based on complaints filed by a 19-year-old young man from Papanasam and an autorickshaw driver, Vedhanarayanan of Vickramasingapuram, the CB-CID registered the cases on the night of Tuesday, May 2.
Two weeks ago, the Tirunelveli District Crime Branch had already registered an FIR based on a complaint from another victim, E. Subhash of KTC Nagar in Palayamkottai, under Sections 506 (1) (Criminal intimidation), 324 (voluntarily hurting by using dangerous weapon) and 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by using dangerous weapon).
Following accusations by several individuals, who charged Mr. Singh of having uprooted their teeth with cutting pliers during inquiries when they were detained by the police in connection with various cases, Singh was placed under suspension by the Tamil Nadu government.
After the Sub-Collector of Cheranmahadevi, Mohamed Shabbir Alam started his inquiry, the State designated senior IAS officer and Secretary, Department of Rural Development P. Amudha to investigate the allegations leveled against the police officer. Following two rounds of investigations at the Ambasamudram Taluk Office and the report subsequently submitted by her, the case was transferred to the CB-CID.
Even as CB-CID Inspector Ulagarani was investigating the complaint received from the victim Subhash, the Organized Crime Unit’s Additional Superintendent of Police, Shankar was also included in the ongoing investigation. Now, Mr. Shankar will investigate the complaint received from the 19-year-old young man, who has filed the latest complaint, and whose teenage brother is also allegedly a victim of custodial torture.
“Since these two boys are Dalits, the CB-CID has also invoked the provisions of Scheduled Caste (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 against the suspended ASP, Inspector of Police and a few police personnel attached to the Ambasamudram police station,” sources in CB-CID said.
Similarly, the complaint preferred by Vedhanarayanan will be investigated by CB-CID Inspector Vijayalakshmi.
The CB-CID has summoned 7 persons – Ganesan, Raju, Mahendran, Sam, the 19-year-old young man and two more teenagers to appear for an inquiry at its office in Tiruneveli district on Friday, May 5.
